Thug jailed after threatening ex's new boyfriend with a knife

Raging Norman Martin, 28, chased the man through the streets with a large kitchen knife after turning up at her home saying he wanted to apologise for an earlier assault.

Martin asked his ex for a glass of water and then he cornered the man in the back garden after producing the black-handled knife.

Neighbours watched in alarm as Martin chased the man down Borrowdale Street in Hartlepool on October 10.

His victim phoned police who arrested Martin soon afterwards at his ex's brother's home nearby where he had been staying.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters told Teesside Crown Court that Martin had two previous convictions for assault in 2008 and 2012.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said that Martin was suffering from a mental health problem at the time.

He said: "His guilty pleas are a recognition that he has done wrong and the best step that he could take by indicating genuine remorse.

"In his pre-sentence report he recognises that the relationship is over. When he is released he intends to return to his family in Telford (Shropshire).

"While in prison he has addressed his anger-management problem."

The judge told Martin, who appeared over a videolink from Durham Jail, that the incident was potentially very serious.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said: "I have no doubt that it was a very frightening episode for him and your ex-partner.

"Your former partner is entitled to form relationships with others."

The judge added: "I very much hope that you will reflect on the sentence today."

Martin, formerly of Hartlepool, and now of Prince Charles Crescent, Telford, was jailed for 16 months after he pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill, possession of a blade and common assault.