Woman climbed on roof to escape 'Jekyll and Hyde' window cleaner ex who flipped

A frightened woman escaped onto the roof of her home when her "Jekyll and Hyde" ex kicked at her front door following months of harassment.
Picture c/o Newcastle Crown Court.Picture c/o Newcastle Crown Court.
Picture c/o Newcastle Crown Court.

The victim ended her 17-month relationship with Connor Small, 23, in February after going through a campaign of torment that left her in fear.

Newcastle Crown Court heard in the months before the break-up, the woman said Small was like a ""Jekyll and Hyde" character who could be "two totally different people".Prosecutor Claire Anderson said: "She said he cold be loving but controlling and just flip".Miss Anderson said the victim had been met with verbal abuse when he called her to collect him from Blackpool in September last year.During a trip to London last December Small threw a bag onto the floor which hit her leg and caused a bruise. He said he thought the bag had hit a wallbut accepted his actions would have caused her to be fearful.In January this year Small grabbed the woman's arm during an argument.The court heard it was in February, after the relationship ended, that the woman sought refuge on her roof.Miss Anderson said; "He attended at her home address and kicked the door."By him kicking the door it caused her to be put in fear and caused her to escape onto her roof and seek assistance of next door neighbours."The court heard the day after the roof escape, the victim was followed by Small when she was driving her car.Small, of Paton Road, Plains Farm, Sunderland, who has set up a window cleaning business, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence by harassment bewteen September last year and February this year.The court heard he had a previous conviction for domestic violence from 2009 which involved a different victim who was barricaded into a bedroom and then chased along the street while Small was carrying a knife.Mr Recorder Nigel Sangster QC sentenced Small to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours unpaid work and £400 costs with a five year restraining order.The judge told him: "I have to sentence you for a number of incidents over a number of months which were perhaps not the most serious, but it is the cumulative effect of behaving in this way which was upsetting and frightening."I am told now the relationship is over and you have had nothing to do with this lady for eight months."I am told you are working and have put this sort of behaviour behind you."Matthew Crow, defending, said the couple's relationship had been "on and off".Mr Crow said the day Small turned up at the woman's door was his birthday and he had wanted to know why she was not celebrating with him.Mr Crow added: "Out of frustration he decided to kick the door twice and then left."They have had no contact since February."