Seven offenders from across the North East have been sentenced in court for what have been described as 'shocking' and 'despicable' crimes against their partners. The cases span communities from Gateshead to Houghton-le-Spring, and Wallsend to Walker, with all those involved having been caught by police and dealt with by the legal system.
In one case, jealous boyfriend Marc McAloon bit chunks out of his girlfriend's face and cut her with a knife during a terrifying "10-hour ordeal". The 21-year-old launched a brutal attack on his then-partner and was seen "smiling" as he subjected her to the violence. A court heard he referred to the teenager as "food" during the attack and even tried to gouge her eyes out. McAloon also strangled the victim, knocking her unconscious, and threatened to kill her.
McAloon and Sweet sentenced
McAloon, of North View, Felling, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for criminal damage, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation, threats to kill, and false imprisonment. He had pleaded guilty to the offences. Sentencing McAloon, Recorder Brian Whitehead said he subjected the victim to a "10-hour ordeal" that had elements of "sadistic conduct". He was jailed for 57 months and made subject of a lifelong restraining order.
Reece Sweet was jailed after he attacked his then partner and strangled her. The incident took place in July 2024 when the woman was asleep and Sweet came into the room and flipped the mattress over, causing her to fall to the floor. He then threatened her and assaulted her before strangling her for a few seconds, to a point where her breathing became restricted and her vision became blurry. Sweet, 23, previously of Stretford Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He also admitted witness intimidation relating to him threatening the victim and her new partner, and asking her to withdraw the allegations. Sweet, who was already serving a 44-month prison sentence for false imprisonment, assault and dangerous driving unrelated to the latest offences, was given 30 months in custody.
Hall and Winder cases
Cheryl Hall attacked her partner and told him "be a man, it's just a graze" after he said he was injured. Hall was intoxicated when she got into an argument with the man, it was said at Newcastle Crown Court. The couple, who had been in an on-off relationship, had been out for drinks when the incident took place in January 2025. During the incident, Hall slapped the man, hit him on the head and lunged at him with a small knife. When he told her she had cut his elbow, she said: "Be a man, it's just a graze", and he suffered a fracture to his hand, an incision to a finger, and an injury to his forearm. Hall, 35, of Lloyd Avenue, Houghton-le-Spring, pleaded guilty to wounding and was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Michael Winder hid a recording device under his ex-girlfriend's bed then attacked her after he didn't like what he heard. His former partner had gone to his home to return a t-shirt when he invited her to stay. The 31-year-old then suddenly woke the woman up by demanding to know who she'd slept with the previous night before launching his assault. Winder threatened to rip the victim's hair out, grabbed her by her throat, put his hand over her mouth and pulled her hair as he tried to stop her leaving. He then smashed the woman's mobile phone before she managed to wriggle free and flee the scene, prosecutors said. Winder, of Hollings Crescent, Wallsend, was arrested and charged with intentional strangulation, assault by beating, criminal damage and stalking. He pleaded guilty to the damage and stalking, was found guilty of the strangulation and assault, and was released on conditional bail to appear on December 3.
Henderson and Ellis sentenced
Jamie Henderson, a student teacher, left her partner needing stitches to cuts to his ear and head after she glassed him in a busy city centre pub. Henderson and her boyfriend had been drinking in the Five Swans, in Newcastle, when they began discussing their relationship coming to an end. The 20-year-old "struggled to control her emotions" and reached for her glass, pouring the contents over the victim's head before repeatedly striking him with it. The victim, who refused to make a statement to police, was taken to hospital with cuts to his ear and the back of his head, which all needed stitches. Henderson, of Chathill Terrace, in Walker, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced in October to an 18-month community order, with 80 hours of unpaid work, as well as being asked to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Shaun Ellis left his partner "scarred for life" after cutting her face twice with a Stanley knife. Ellis sliced the left and right side of his then-partner's face with the blade after repeatedly punching her. The cuts were so deep, they penetrated the muscle and left the woman fearing she would be killed. She had to be rushed to hospital so the wounds could be stitched up. Ellis, of Eastgarth, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for wounding with intent and possession of a blade. The 37-year-old had pleaded guilty on the basis he could not remember causing the injuries. The court was told Ellis had 38 previous convictions for 52 offences and had committed previous batteries on the same woman, as well as being jailed for offences of GBH and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Ellis was sentenced to an extended prison term of seven years and six months.
