A chef who threatened to decapitate his ex-partner in a “prolonged and vicious” attack, which he filmed on his mobile phone, has been jailed.
David Thompson, 49, burst into the victim’s flat in Harrogate while she was watching television, before stamping on her, hitting her with a stereo unit and smashing a glass vase over her head.
York Crown Court was told the woman, who said she had feared she was going to die, suffered extensive bruising and cuts to her hand and knee, caused by shards from the glass.
Thompson, of The Square, Hillam, was jailed for three years and eight months after admitting attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.
The court heard how, when Thompson got into the flat, he shouted: “It’s a good job I didn’t bring my cleaver around or I’d chop your head off right now.”
Prosecutor Oliver Norman said he then kicked the woman in the head “with full force” before stamping on her.
The barrister said Thompson then dragged her to the floor and, while she was curled up in a ball, smashed the vase over her head.
Police were called by the woman’s neighbours who had heard her screams and “loud crashing sounds”.
During the hearing, the court was played footage from his mobile phone in which she was seen pleading with Thompson to leave.
In it, she screamed: “Help me, help me. Stop it please. Please help me somebody.”
When officers arrested Thompson, it was evident he had been drinking and had blood on his shorts and trainers.
He initially claimed he had acted in self-defence and said he “should have killed her”, the court heard.
