Spurned Rowley Regis lover jailed after violent campaign against ex-girlfriend (From Halesowen News)

Spurned Rowley Regis lover jailed after violent campaign against ex-girlfriend

7:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News

A CRAZED Rowley Regis man grabbed his ex-girlfiend’s throat, brandished an air pistol and kicked her before stealing her car and crashing it into a road sign.

After being arrested spurned lover Richard Deakin continued to intimidate his ex-girlfriend of seven years even threatening to kill her parents.

Mr Deakin was jailed for 16 months after his meltdown after he admitted affray, battery, aggravated vehicle taking, witness intimidation as well as possessing cocaine and cannabis.

Judge Peter Barrie told Wolverhampton Crown Court whilst sentencing Deakin: "You completely lost your self control and you behaved in a frightening way towards her."

"You clearly have problems controlling your temper."

Mr Philip Brunt defending Deakin said his relationship disintegrated as there was "unpleasant violence.”

He said 24-year-old Deakin accepted his behaviour had been "disgraceful" at a time when the pair were still living together and there was a "great deal of friction."

Mr Brunt said she had been given the air gun by her father and stressed the gas cartridge was empty so it posed no danger whatsoever because it was "useless."

He told court that Deakin had a new girlfriend and he had moved on. "He is now focusing completely on the future."

Deakin was also further disqualified from driving for a year by the judge who made a restraining order forbidding him from having any contact with his former partner after a string of ugly incidents.

Mr David Bennett prosecuting said Deakin had struggled to come to terms with the end of his relationship and he assaulted his ex-partner and also waved a lock knife in the air.

There was another argument after he returned from work and he grabbed her by the throat and spat in her face before threatening to kill her father.

She tried to stop him from leaving the house and it was then he grabbed the air pistol and kicked her in the back before driving off in her car which he crashed a short distance from her parent's home.

After being arrested by police Deakin was bailed and he made a threatening and abusive telephone call to the woman before sending off a string of text messages threatening to kill her and her parents.