Harrogate man jailed after filming violent attack on ex-partner and threatening to kill her

A man threatened to decapitate his ex-partner after bursting into her home in Harrogate, stamping on her and smashing a vase over her head - while filming the entire incident.

David Thompson, 49, a head chef, burst into the victim’s flat on Kings Road while she was watching TV, York Crown Court heard.

He began shouting at her and “making threats to kill and threats of decapitation”, said prosecutor Oliver Norman.

Thompson, who was filming the frenzied attack on his phone, shouted at the victim: “It’s a good job I didn’t bring my cleaver around or I’d chop your head off right now.”

As the terrified victim screamed, Thompson kicked her in the head “with full force” and then stamped on her head.

The force of the blows “stunned and dazed” her as she lay “motionless” on her bed.

Thompson then dragged her to the floor and, as she was curled up in a ball, he smashed a vase over her head.

He then picked up a stereo unit and threw it at her, striking her on the head.

He then shouted at the victim: “Do you want me to kill you now? Because I will.”

Neighbours heard the victim’s screams and “loud crashing sounds”.

Police were called and one of the neighbours went round to the flat, but when he went in, Thompson burst through the open door and ran past him.

When officers arrested Thompson shortly afterwards, he smelled of alcohol and had blood on his shorts and trainers from the injuries caused to the victim.

He initially claimed he had acted in self-defence and said that he “should have killed her”.

The victim, who thought she was going to die during the attack, suffered extensive bruising and cuts to her hand and knee caused by shards from the glass vase, which was smashed over her head.

She also suffered an injury to her ear and on her head was a tread pattern from Thompson’s trainer.

“Blood was spattered around the property,” said Mr Norman.

He said that despite the ferocity of the attack, CT scans and X-rays revealed no broken bones or internal bleeding.

He said that Thompson had travelled the short distance to the victim’s flat on Kings Road after being told that she had sent an anonymous Facebook message to his new girlfriend.

Mr Norman said that in the alleged message, the victim had allegedly “made allegations” about Thompson.

Thompson - lately of The Square, in Hillam, - was charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill.

He denied making threats to kill, but admitted attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution accepted his pleas and allowed the threats-to-kill allegation to lie on file because they were part of the attack.

Thompson appeared for sentence on Thursday (October 29) when the prosecution showed video footage of the attack, which he himself had filmed on his phone.

In the disturbing clip, the victim is seen pleading with Thompson to leave after he burst into her flat.

She screamed: “Help me, help me, stop it please, please help me somebody.”

Thompson is then heard to say: “I’m gonna smash this over you.”

The attack occurred in June 2024, just over a year since Thompson and the victim had split up in the spring of 2023.

They had remained in contact and initially on good terms, but when Thompson found a new partner, the relationship with the victim soured.

In a statement read out by the prosecution, the victim said that during the frenzied attack, she “closed her eyes believing she was about to die”.

She had since suffered from severe anxiety and depression and her self-esteem had been shattered.

She was unable to work following the attack and continued to receive counselling.

Thompson had a previous conviction from 2016 for battering another former partner.

Defence barrister Oliver Connor said that Thompson had mental-health problems and had lived a “law-abiding life” since the attack two years ago.

“He has maintained full employment as a head chef and has worked in that industry for a long time,” added Mr Connor.

Judge Sean Morris described the “revenge” attack on the victim as “shocking”.

He told Thompson: “What you did was go round to her flat where she was on the bed and you subjected her to a prolonged and vicious attack.

“You threatened to kill her - you kicked and stamped on her head, leaving your own footprint in her flesh.

“You smashed things down upon her - you shouted abuse at her.

“She pleaded with you to stop but you didn’t - you went on and on and on.”

Thompson was jailed for three years and eight months.

In addition, the judge made a 10-year restraining order banning Thompson from contacting the victim and going within 100 metres of her home.