LONGBENTON MAN JAILED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DANGEROUS DRIVING
A woman attempted to escape from a moving car as she was being attacked by her partner, a court heard.Tony Ellis, 39, was driving with the victim in the passenger seat when he began hitting her across the head.
The incident was captured on CCTV and showed Ellis, of Bardsey Place, Longbenton, reversing the vehicle into a wall while the victim tried to get out.
Prosecutor Rachel Butt explained that the victim has known Ellis for about 15 years, describing their relationship as on/off due to his violent tendencies, which are fueled by drug use.
The court was told that on June 21 last year, during a walk near Ellis's home, his mood changed after he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, leading to a physical altercation where he headbutted her and caused a bruise.
Days later, at Ellis’s residence, he grabbed her by the throat and growled at her after questioning her about a conversation on her phone.
Later that day, he struck her with his mobile phone, causing a bruise on her hip.
The victim moved into supported accommodation, but Ellis moved in with her.
On June 30, he took Valium and became more violent, grabbing her chest and demanding her medication while twisting her wrist.
The incident escalated as she attempted to leave a moving vehicle to escape further assault.
On sentencing, Recorder Peter Makepeace described Ellis’s behavior as concerning and shocking, noting how desperate the victim must have been to act in such a way.
Ellis pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and four counts of assault by beating, and he was sentenced to 20 months in prison with a 12-month conditional license.
The court expressed concern that his behavior resembled animalistic tendencies and warned that it could have led to a charge of dangerous driving.
