Yarm, England – A man in Yarm, England, has been sentenced to four years in prison for carrying out a violent attack on his ex-girlfriend’s new partner. Jordan Kelly, 23, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm after going on a drunken rampage armed with a knife at a block of flats where his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend resided, as reported by the Teesside Crown Court.
According to the prosecutor, Kevin Wardlaw, Kelly had been in a controlling and mentally abusive relationship with his ex-girlfriend for about seven years before it ended in July 2023. The court heard that Kelly would often threaten his ex-girlfriend, even going as far as taking a knife to bed and threatening to kill her if she tried to leave him.
On September 8, 2023, Kelly confronted his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend at his flat and proceeded to make death threats towards the couple. He held a knife with a 10-inch blade against the man’s throat, punched him multiple times, and bit his arm and face. Kelly’s rage escalated to the point where he stated that as long as the couple was dead, it was worth it for him, Wardlaw said.
The violent altercation also involved a struggle with Kelly’s ex-girlfriend, ending with Kelly pushing a police officer against a wall and attempting to kick him after being arrested. The prosecutor described Kelly as “screaming with rage” throughout the incident, leading to the use of incapacitant spray to subdue him.
Kelly later threatened the couple again, expressing his intention to stab them while at the hospital. The male victim, left with injuries including temporary loss of vision in one eye, stated that he genuinely feared for his life during the attack. Kelly’s ex-partner described him as “obsessed” with her, causing her to live in constant fear of him.
Sentencing Kelly, Recorder Melly KC condemned the attack as “prolonged and persistent”, involving the use of a “highly dangerous weapon.” In addition to his four-year prison term, an indefinite restraining order was issued for both victims to protect them from further harm.
The case highlights the severity of domestic violence and the lasting impact it can have on victims, emphasizing the importance of adequate legal consequences for perpetrators to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected.