Man who broke new girlfriend's jaw jailed

A man who broke his new girlfriend's jaw after attacking her multiple times during their month-long relationship has been jailed for almost four years.

Scott Gibson, 23, who had threatened to kill the woman just days after they met, also strangled her, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

His victim, a mother of two, said she was "terrified" of Gibson and feared having a relationship with anyone else.

Gibson, of Pancras Road in Plains Farm, Sunderland, admitted offences including intentional strangulation, inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault, and was jailed for three years and nine months.

The couple began a relationship in April 2024 after meeting through a mutual friend and spent the bulk of their time at Gibson's home, prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said.

At first Gibson appeared "nice" but within two weeks became "jealous and insecure", the court heard, with him threatening to kill her if she did not delete male friends from social media.

On one occasion in early May, Gibson locked her in his home after she said she wanted to leave and then flipped a sofa she was sitting on, causing her to bang her head, the court heard.

They broke up but resumed their relationship after Gibson apologised, Mr Wardlaw said.

On 14 May and after taking cocaine, Gibson "screamed at her" and knocked her unconscious in a pub in Sunderland, then pulled her to the ground again as she neared a relative's home, the court heard.

The woman was left with two black eyes, swelling to her head and a burst lip, Mr Wardlaw said.

Gibson was arrested and released on bail with a condition not to contact the woman, but five days later he arranged to meet her at a pub in Sunderland, the court heard.

After threatening her on a bus, which was overheard by a concerned member of the public who contacted police, Gibson pushed the woman over a wall, the court heard.

He then picked her up and held her by the hair while repeatedly punching her in the face, breaking her jaw, before strangling her, Mr Wardlaw said.

The woman could only escape by running into traffic and getting into a stranger's car, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she was "terrified" of Gibson and had been assaulted at least three times during their four-week-long relationship.

She said she had trusted him but was now wary of having a relationship with anyone else.

The court heard Gibson had a history of violence including attacking former partners.

In mitigation, the court heard he had a traumatic childhood and was genuinely remorseful for his actions.

Recorder Craig Hassall said the attacks had had a "significant impact" on the woman, who "should have been safe and enjoying the early days of a relationship".

Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].