Middlesbrough man jailed for dripping Superglue into girlfriend's eye and domestic abuse

Thomas Patton was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after admitting to multiple offenses linked to domestic violence and coercive control. The court was informed that Patton, residing on Cotswold Avenue in Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, inflicted various violent acts and threats on his former partner during their relationship from July to October 2023. Among the most serious incidents was when he inserted Superglue into her eye while she was sleeping, leading to her requiring hospital care for her eye being stuck shut. The victim also stated that following this event, Patton attempted to intimidate her into withdrawing her police statement, which she did after being threatened further. Court reports, as relayed by Teesside Crown Court, revealed that she now lives in constant fear and rarely leaves her home. She described feeling deeply trapped, stating that Patton told her he would prefer her dead rather than with someone else. Additional reports included damage to her mother's vehicle, being followed by a man with a knife, and receiving abusive language. During the trial, Patton's lawyer argued that the superglue incident was accidental and that he had no intent to harm, but the judge dismissed this explanation. Judge Stephen Ashurst reprimanded Patton for his conduct, stating that he rejected the idea that the glue incident was accidental and emphasized that the victim deserved to live free of threats. He condemned Patton's actions in a relationship that had turned violent and intimidating, including the superglue attack and efforts to pressure her into retracting her police statement. Patton was found guilty of coercive behavior, actual bodily harm in the form of assault, and witness intimidation. He received a prison sentence of three years and six months, and a five-year restraining order was imposed, banning him from contact with the victim and her mother. In court, the victim conveyed her fears of retaliation and expressed a wish to leave the area if Patton is released, sharing that her family distanced themselves from her and that she had lost friends due to his erratic behavior. She admitted that she felt so trapped that she considered ending her life as her only escape.