Brute strangled ex after getting her to open the door by saying he had been stabbed

A brute who strangled his ex after getting her to open the door by claiming he had been stabbed is behind bars.

The victim had locked her doors and windows when she heard Richard Dickinson shouting outside her home in May.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard he caused "a scene" and convinced her to talk to him by saying he had been stabbed.

Prosecutor Benjamin Whittingham told the court the woman contacted the police and gave Dickinson a bible in a bid to calm him down but he "tore at it" then locked them inside the house.

Mr Whittigham added: "He pushed her and strangled her with his right hand, with enough force to push her back a few steps and caused her to grasp for breath.

It caused immediate pain.

"He told her he would stab any officer that came inside the home and may as well kill her too."

The court heard the woman was pushed several more times before Dickinson searched the house for cigarettes then left.

He was arrested a short distance away.

Dickinson, 30, of Burnstone, West Denton, Newcastle, who has convictions for 97 previous offences, admitted non fatal strangulation.

The victim said in a statement: "I should be able to feel safe in my home but I don't. I constantly feel on edge."

Penny Hall, defending, said although the attack was serious, it was "short lived" and lasted a matter of seconds.

Miss Hall said Dickinson has been working in the prison kitchens while on remand.

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Judge Tim Gittins said Dickinson left the victim "utterly terrified" and added: "The message needs to go out, the Court of Appeal have made it clear any domestic violence is serious, more serious than other forms of violence, but in particular this sort of offence, strangulation, which causes a significant risk of serious physical harm and causes deep psychological trauma."

Judge Gittins sentenced Dickinson, who as already behind bars serving another sentence, to 12 months and issued a five-year restraining order to protect the woman.