County Durham tradesman jailed for assault and harassment during divorce

COUNTY DURHAM TRADESMAN JAILED FOR ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT DURING DIVORCE

A court has detailed how Scott King, a 40-year-old tradesman from All Saints Road, Shildon, County Durham, subjected his wife to a campaign of harassment and physical assaults during their divorce.

The court heard that King had been in a long-term relationship with the victim, married for ten years, but their relationship broke down in 2023.

During this period, King’s offending escalated, including one incident where he pinned his wife to a flight of stairs with his hands around her throat after becoming enraged when she answered a phone call.

Prosecutor Reece Williams described how his violence left the woman suffering from flashbacks and regarded her as a 'wreck'.

King had pleaded guilty to charges of harassment and two counts of assault by beating, and appeared at Durham Crown Court via video link from HMP Durham to be sentenced.

Evidence was presented of multiple incidents, including one in November 2024 when he smashed his wife’s belongings valued at £100, and another where he forcibly entered her home, held her in a bear-hug for minutes, and searched her rooms while paranoid about another man being present.

King’s criminal history includes five previous convictions for seven offences such as criminal damage and failing to provide a specimen.

His defense argued that he was remorseful and that his mental health deteriorated after the relationship ended and their move back to the UK from Texas.

The judge sentenced King to 16 months' imprisonment and imposed a five-year restraining order.