STUART HANSEN – SOUTH SHEILDS

Tyneside man jailed after campaign of controlling and violent abuse against two partners

A Tyneside man who subjected two partners to a prolonged campaign of controlling behaviour and violence has been jailed.

Stuart Hansen, 41, of Honeysuckle Avenue, South Shields, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting a series of offences against two women.

The court heard Hansen was in a relationship with the first victim from 2022 until May 2024. During that time, he became increasingly jealous and controlling, dictating what she could wear and accusing her of looking at other men.

Prosecutor Estelle Chambers told the court Hansen monitored her social media activity and became angry if she followed or interacted with other men online. On one occasion during a break at a log cabin, he locked her inside and pushed her to the floor when she tried to leave. It was said he made threats suggesting she would not be found because they were in a rural area.

The court heard his behaviour regularly escalated into physical violence. He pulled her hair, pushed and punched her, spat at her and, on one occasion, threw a house key at her face, causing injury to her eye.

In May 2023, Hansen punched her in the face after accusing her of being unfaithful. In July that year, he entered her home and became verbally abusive before dragging her by the hair, striking her to the head and biting her face and lip. When she shouted, he covered her mouth with his hand.

On another occasion, he picked her up by the neck and threw her to the floor before delivering blows to her ribs. Days later, he placed her in a rear chokehold, leaving her feeling dizzy.

The court heard he would follow her while she was driving, park outside her property to intimidate her, and isolate her from family and friends. He also objected to her having male clients in her job as a hairdresser.

One incident occurred after she returned home late from a bingo night with friends. Hansen threw a beaker of liquid towards her, dragged her around the house and later bit her hand. She described him pouring a drink over her head when annoyed.

During arguments, he falsely insinuated he had disposed of a lock of hair belonging to her late mother, causing her considerable distress.

In a victim impact statement, she told the court: “Following our six month relationship I feel like a shell of myself. I have regular flashbacks, thinking he is hiding around my house.”

After that relationship ended, Hansen began a relationship with a second woman in December 2024 while on police bail. The court heard he subjected her to similar controlling, jealous and aggressive behaviour.

Miss Chambers said: “She said he was jealous, controlling and aggressive throughout.”

He assaulted her, monitored her phone, isolated her from family and friends and became angry if she gave attention to others. During one attack at Ramside, just a month into their relationship, he lunged at her and bit her lip after she received a message from an old male school friend.

On Father’s Day, he became angry that she was giving family members more attention than him and launched what was described as a violent attack, leaving her on the bedroom floor.

The second victim told the court she had self-harmed as a consequence of what happened and now struggles to trust people. She said: “I fear for other women and I don’t believe he will change his ways. His behaviour is deep-rooted and persistent.”

Hansen, who has eight previous convictions including for violence, pleaded guilty to:
• Two counts of controlling or coercive behaviour
• Two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
• Strangulation
• Common assault

He was jailed for a total of 86 months.

Sentencing, Judge Roger Thomas KC said Hansen’s offending had a “very serious and lasting impact” on both women.

“You damaged each of these women very significantly indeed,” the judge told him.

Defending, Michael Forrest said Hansen was remorseful for what he described as his “horrible acts” and that drugs and alcohol had been a “catalyst” in the offending. He said Hansen had been working to address those issues while on remand.

The judge said the pattern of behaviour showed sustained control and violence across two relationships and warranted an immediate custodial sentence.