A jealous thug strangled his partner until she blacked out and then threatened to kill her while holding a knife, a court heard.
Savage Mark Riordan, aged 58, punched and throttled the woman in her home after accusing her of plotting an affair.
He told the mother-of two: “I will murder you, you will never see your kids again.”
She told police that she thought she would die before she fell unconscious, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
Taxi driver Riordan, released on bail, stormed into her home in Whitleigh to stand in her bedroom doorway while holding a knife.
He again threatened to kill her in front of her nine-year-old son.
The boy was left “shouting, screaming and crying,” the court heard.
Jailing him for a total of four years, Judge William Mousley said that the attack had forced the family to move away because Riordan lived across the street.
He added: “She is still very scared of you and worried about what you might do upon your release from prison”.
The court heard that her attempts to access psychiatric help had been frustrated by the coronavirus crisis.
Riordan, now of Lower Side, Ham, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm on October 28. He also admitted making threats to kill on November 28.
Heather Hope, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Riordan had known the woman for a while as neighbours and dog owners in Bodmin Road.
She added that they had started going out about six months before the offences and there had been talk of marriage.
Miss Hope said that Riordan had been served with an injunction preventing him from “threatening violence” in the area.
The barrister added that the woman arranged a night out with a female friend, but Riordan accused her of setting it up so she could “cheat on him”.
Miss Hope said that in fact the defendant called the women who agreed he could join them in the pub.
The court heard that they all returned to Riordan’s house before his partner said she wanted to go home for the night with her friend, who was staying over.
Miss Hope said: “His attitude completely changed. He closed the door and wanted to stop her leaving."
She added that the women did return to her house but Riordan followed.
Miss Hope said that the defendant hit her with the back of his hand so that she fell on to the bed.
She added: “He jumped on the bed and sat astride her, placing both hands around her throat. He said: ‘I am going to murder you, you will never see your kids again. Do not disrespect me’.”
The barrister said that she tried to push him away but he bit her fingers when they ended up in her mouth.
The court heard that she blacked out and came around with the worried friend trying to revive her.
Riordan was arrested but later released on bail.
He burst into the house in late November, past the nine-year-old who was playing computer games, and to the woman’s bedroom.
Riordan stood in the doorway and threatened to kill the woman while holding a knife. He then ran out of the home.
Michael Green, for Riordan, said that after the second attack, Riordan was found unconscious having taken an overdose.
The barrister said that he had not been diagnosed with any mental illness but his actions showed his distress at the time.
He added that he was remorseful for the incidents and had put the relationship behind him some seven months later.
The judge made a six-year six-month restraining order banning Riordan from contacting the woman.
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/s ... ll-4228282
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