Man Jailed for Assaulting Partner in Front of Children

An individual received a four-year prison sentence after committing a violent assault against his then-girlfriend in the presence of her screaming children. Alexander Hindmarsh, aged 35, was recorded by one of the children during an attack on the woman at her residence, according to proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court. Several weeks subsequently, he gained entry to her home by climbing through a window and subjected her to a ninety-minute ordeal, involving strangulation, dragging her by her hair, and threatening her with a broken bottle. Hindmarsh, who had a history of domestic abuse against other individuals, pleaded guilty to charges including strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and threatening with a weapon. Prosecutor Michael Bunch stated that Hindmarsh, residing at Martin Terrace in Sunderland, was “motivated by jealousy” when he visited the woman’s home on March 31 and insisted on viewing her phone. A video presented to the court depicted Hindmarsh assaulting the woman in her living room as her two children cried and screamed for him to cease. The court was informed that he repeatedly seized the woman by her hair, forced her onto the sofa, and yelled that he would “smash” her head in. Mr Bunch reported that the assault concluded only when one of the children “bravely” contacted 999, even though Hindmarsh had instructed them not to. The court heard that Hindmarsh repeatedly returned to her residence in the subsequent weeks before entering through a first-floor bedroom window on September 7. Mr Bunch stated that he pursued the woman as she tried to escape, seized her by the throat, and repeatedly dragged her by her hair. Furthermore, he broke a glass bottle and threatened to stab her with it, according to court testimony. The assault persisted for approximately ninety minutes until the arrival of the woman’s relatives. Recorder Alistair MacDonald KC commented that the video of the initial attack distinctly demonstrated the children’s trauma from witnessing their mother being assaulted, further stating: “Who knows what effect this will have on those children.” He also remarked that during the second assault, the woman must have been “absolutely terrified,” and added that strangulation presented the “most appalling risk of either permanent damage or death” to the victim. Information regarding BBC North East is available on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. This content is copyrighted by BBC 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details concerning their approach to external linking are accessible.