Jealous Hartlepool man who tried to control partner's life and threatened her with a gun is jailed

Lee Hakansson influenced how his girlfriend dressed, deleted male friends from her social media accounts, and threatened to end the relationship if she saw her friends, a court heard.

One one frightening occasion he tried to smother her with a bed cover and pointed a ball bearing gun at her.

During another sustained assault Hakansson punched her in the face chipping a tooth and giving her a split lip.

The 30-year-old was found guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour and of actual bodily harm after a trial.

He was jailed for 30 months by Teesside Crown Court.

The court heard that at the time of the offences Hakannson was subject to a suspended prison sentence for an affray and having a blade.

Describing the incident with the bed cover and gun, prosecutor Daniel Penman said: “She tried to get out of bed and the defendant pushed her down before smothering her with the duvet, pushing it across her face so she struggled to breathe.

"He then produced a short handled object that looked like a BB gun and said ‘if you don’t be quiet I’m going to shoot you’.”

The victim tried to run from the house but Hakannson pushed her to the floor.

She ended the relationship after the second assault in June last year.

In a statement she said: “I’m frightened of what he could be capable of in the future. I’m upset and angry I let him treat me this way.”

Andrew Turton, defending, said in mitigation: “He accepts his treatment of his former partner was inappropriate.

"A lot of the problems he puts down to mismanagement of emotions and alcohol, and he’s determined at this stage in his life to deal with those issues.”

Judge Howard Crowson said Hakannson, of Macrae Road, Hartlepool, intended to degrade her and make her feel worthless.

He said: “Today I’m asked to take the view that somehow you’ve learned your lesson and you are now no threat to women.

“I find that extremely difficult to accept. You’ve offended in a nearly identical manner.”

Hakannson was slapped with an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

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