Jordan Spence jailed for violent attack on ex-partner in Belfast

The attack began when Spence and his victim, who were no longer in a relationship, got into a verbal argument.

When the woman tried to leave his home, Spence slammed the front door shut, grabbed her thumb and pulled her arm back.

He then pushed her over, jumped on her stomach and punched her twice in the face.

When the victim bit Spence in self-defence he stamped on her mobile phone, smashed it with a hammer and threw it in a mop bucket.

The woman then tried to get out through the back door but Spence pulled her back and locked the door with a padlock.

After punching the victim repeatedly in the face and strangling her, Spence picked up a sword and threatened to kill her.

He allegedly told her: “I am going to cut you into bits and hide you where no-one will find you.”

The woman managed to escape and raise the alarm by stopping a member of the public.

When police went to speak to her they saw she had a number of injuries including swelling to her face and thumb and marks on her neck.

In addition to admitting assault, Spence pleaded guilty to criminal damage, threats to kill and false imprisonment – all aggravated by reason of domestic abuse.