August 2023

A remorseless abuser who told a woman he would kill her and that he could not wait to see her daughter’s face when she found out he had hurt her mother has been jailed. 

Lee Eldrett brutally attacked the woman in her own home, striking her head, face, arms and hands as she lay on the floor. 

The 35-year-old also threatened her with a knife, before punching her and strangling her until she began to feel faint and her vision blurred. 

He then picked up an air rifle, pointed it at the woman and told her he was going to kill her. 

Police officers attended the address on an immediate response and handcuffed Eldrett, who made an unsuccessful attempt to resist his arrest. 

He was taken into police custody and an investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary. 

Eldrett, of West Cornforth, was subsequently charged with several offences, including intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, making threats to kill, possession of an air weapon with intent to cause fear of violence and resisting a police constable. 

He was also charged with perverting the course of justice after he tried to persuade the woman to change her statement during a phone call to her while on remand in prison. 

Eldrett denied all the charges against him but was found guilty following a trial. 

He appeared at Durham Crown Court on July 28 where he was handed an eight-year prison sentence.