A convicted rapist tried to rob his partner after downing around 18 cans of lager – because she wouldn’t give him £10 to buy more drink.
Mark James had already persuaded the woman to give him £20 for alcohol but after consuming it all, he demanded more. She eventually gave in to his request for £10 but he then raised his demand to £20.
When she refused, he turned aggressive, throwing beer over her before repeatedly punching her and twisting her arm while threatening to break it. The attack only came to an end when a concerned neighbour banged on the window and told him to get off her.
Now James, 52, who a judge said “poses an ongoing and significant danger to women”, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for attempting to rob the victim.
The court heard the victim, 63, had been in relationship with James for around three-and-a-half years, which she described as “up and down” because of his dependency on alcohol. Saba Shan, prosecuting, said James would spend his benefits on alcohol before asking his partner for money, which would cause arguments.
On October 26, after he had been drinking, he demanded £20 to buy cigarettes and alcohol and this led to a heated row. She eventually gave in and handed him £20 and he left before returning an hour later with more drink.
Around 7pm, he became agitated after consuming all of the alcohol he had bought and she told him to leave, fearing matters would escalate. He said he would go if she gave him another £10 but she refused.
Miss Shan said he responded by throwing beer over her and said he would leave her alone if she gave him the money. Miss Shan said: “He became aggressive and repeatedly demanded money.
“At one point she tried to retrieve her phone to contact police but he took her phone off her. She placed £10 on the table due to his aggressive manner but he then said it was not enough and raised his demand to £20.”
The court heard James turned the light off and the victim thought this was to prevent anyone outside seeing what was happening. Miss Shan said: “He threatened to break her arm if she didn’t give him the money.
“He picked up glass vase and raised it as if he was going to strike her. He then raised her forearm and twisted it and repeated that he was going to break her arm.
“She screamed and he punched her in the head. She begged him to stop but he continued punching her to the head and she said she was in a lot of pain.
“The punches only stopped when there was a loud knocking at the window. Her neighbour was at the window telling him to get off her.” The woman then managed to get out of the house.
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Even after police had arrived and arrested him, he threatened “I’m going to ******* have her when I get back” as he was put in a police van.
The woman was left with bruising to her eye and pain and swelling to her face. She said afterwards: “I was terrified Mark was going to do long term damage to me.
“I didn’t know what his intentions were but it felt like he wanted to kill me. I feel intimidated by him on a daily basis due to his behaviour. I don’t want to live like that anymore.” The court heard she has since decided she wants to resume contact with him and doesn’t want a restraining order.
James, of Shaftoe Road, Sunderland, who told probation officers he had consumed 16 to 18 cans of lager that day, has 15 previous convictions, including for rape in 2014, for which he was jailed for 66 months and breaching a sexual harm prevention order in 2020.
For the latest offence, he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for three-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of a further two years. Recorder Nathan Moxon told him: “You have a history of violent and sexual offending towards women. You pose an ongoing and significant danger to women.”
Jason Smith, defending, said: “This offence is driven by his insatiable need for alcohol as a consequence of his alcohol addiction. He takes full responsibility for his actions on that day.”
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