Jealous Sunderland man broke into ex's home and bit her face during a terrifying attack

Tony Rackstraw sent a series of text messages to his victim and new partner on July 4 this year, telling them he knew about their relationship before showing up and violently attacking her.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that a short time after receiving the messages from Rackstraw, the couple began to hear shouting from outside of the address and the noise of their back gate being kicked in.

Rackstraw then forced his way into the property along with another male, as the victims fled upstairs and locked themselves in a bedroom.

Jane Foley, prosecuting, told the court that the female victim tried to stop Rackstraw, but the defendant turned violent towards her, biting her face and pinning her by the throat.

"The victim was at home with her new partner when she began receiving texts from a friend informing her the defendant knew about her new relationship," Ms Foley said.

"Her new partner also received texts from an unknown number and at about 10.40pm she heard banging which made her think her back door was being kicked.

"They went into the upstairs bedroom where it was possible to hear the back door being kicked in.

"The defendant could be heard to shout 'I'm going to stab yous up'".

After eventually forcing the door open, Rackstraw, 35, of Roker Avenue in Sunderland, picked up a kitchen knife before snatching the woman's mobile phone.

After making her way downstairs, the victim had her bottom lip bitten by the defendant causing swelling, and got her wrist caught in the sitting room door as the altercation broke out.

Ms Foley added: "The defendant also grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the wall as her partner attempted to get the defendant off the victim."

The court heard the defendant eventually fled leaving the knife behind, but had caused bruising to his ex who issued a personal victim statement to the court.

It read: "I'm on anti-depressants and have been for three years, and have been having panic attacks for two years.

"I can't see an end to this, the only way I can see an end is by something serious happening.

"I want him to leave me alone and stop attending my address as he has no reason to do so."

Rackstraw, who has seven previous convictions for 11 offences, admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of affray.

Nick Peacock, mitigating, told the court that the defendant suggested that he was actually still in a relationship with the victim and had a key to the address.

Mr Peacock added: "He has no heavy convictions by any stretch of the imagination - this is his first time in custody. It's been a very sobering experience for him.

"He has heart problems and his father died when he was 45.

"He has to learn to deal with the fact that his former partner is in a relationship.

"He wants to be in a position to help himself, this is not a man who wants to go back to custody."

Suggesting a suspended prison sentence might be the appropriate course of action, Mr Peacock added: "It's been a lesson learned for this man."

However, Judge Robert Spragg passed down an immediate custodial of 21 months and imposed a restraining order preventing contact with the victim.

The Judge told the defendant: "I've listened carefully to what's been said on your behalf.

"This is a domestic offence and they are viewed more serious, given they took place at her house where she should feel safe.

"The appropriate punishment can only be achieved with an immediate custody and it would not be appropriate to suspend it."