JEALOUS EX-BOYFRIEND JAILED FOR STRING OF VIOLENT ATTACKS ON EX-GIRLFRIEND
Jealous ex-boyfriend James Horn, aged 35, infiltrated his former partner’s home and engaged in a sexual act on her bed amid a series of terrifying abuse incidents.Over the course of their seven-month relationship, which ended in November 2022, Horn attacked her three times.
His assaults included strangulation, repeated punches to the head, pulling her hair, and damaging her property.
At one point, he threatened her with a knife and threatened to pour petrol through her letterbox.
During the incidents, Horn was under the influence of monkey dust.
Prosecutor Anthony Longworth explained that Horn continued to be aggressive even after their breakup, which had occurred three weeks earlier, and had entered her house despite being asked to return his keys.
On November 30, after she returned home with her children at around 6:30 pm, Horn was found in her bedroom and expressed a desire to have sex, which she refused.
His response was violent, involving strangulation, punching, and hair pulling, while he called her derogatory names and accused her of infidelity with a neighbour.
Horn threatened her with a knife and poured petrol over her letterbox.
The fight escalated, and Horn damaged her phone to prevent her from calling the police.
He refused to leave her house, and on December 2, he assaulted her again, demanding sex, punching her, and destroying her replacement mobile.
The following day, he attacked her once more, strangling and slapping her while threatening to break her legs and claiming he knew people who would kill her.
His ex-partner managed to force him outside and shut the door.
In a victim impact statement, she said she now feels terrified and is always looking over her shoulder.
Horn, with a history of convictions for shoplifting, breaching court orders, possessing a bladed article, and criminal damage, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including strangulation, threats to kill and damage property, and assault.
The court sentenced him to 40 months in prison, recognizing his remorse, but also noting his learning difficulties and that he was under the influence at the time.
