Johnny McRae had an intermittent relationship with the victim for around three years, during which she characterised him as domineering and abusive. She terminated the relationship in October 2018 but persisted in experiencing problems with him appearing at her residence and issuing threats.
In January 2019, she returned home to discover Johnny McRae holding a brick, who remarked that she was fortunate to have returned, as he intended to shatter her window. She attempted to contact the police, but he seized her phone and refused to vacate her residence until the next morning, absconding with her device.
Johnny McRae subsequently returned multiple times, vandalising her door and removing a sofa, claiming it belonged to him. He subsequently struck her on the head with a can of air freshener and kicked her leg, resulting in bruises and soft tissue damage, as well as a contusion to her head, instilling a concern for her life following the assault on January 12.
Johnny McRae, 30, of Belgrave Terrace, South Shields, admitted to charges of harassment, theft of a mobile phone, criminal damage, two counts of common assault, and employing threats to get access. He received a 20-month suspended sentence for two years, accompanied by a six-month curfew, an exclusion order, a mandate to complete a developing better relationships course and a £500 reparation payment.
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