Thug John McGuire headbutted ex and chasing her while wielding knife

John McGuire, 30, was locked up for two years after launching an attack at his former partner’s address in Colchester.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard McGuire showed up at her home to ask if she could do his washing.

After his ex washed his clothes, she asked him to leave.

Jerry Hayes, prosecuting, described the horrific attack which followed.

“She grabbed her bag and attempted to leave the property,” he said.

“The defendant grabbed her and swung her around, and then pushed her into the corner of the communal hallway of the block of flats.

“He then grabbed her around the neck with both hands and strangled her for about 15 seconds.

“He headbutted her on the nose and punched her in the face.”

“She was bleeding.”

After a friend of the victim persuaded McGuire to stop, the victim was able to flee.

But McGuire grabbed a kitchen knife from her flat and gave chase.

He was later arrested in the front garden of a nearby property and was found to be “very drunk."

He admitted charges of assault and possession of a knife.

Mr Hayes said McGuire has an “appalling” record, including a history of domestic violence against partners.

In mitigation, Gareth Hughes said his client had “the good sense” to admit his guilt at the earliest opportunity.

He said McGuire, who had worked as a chef, had been “at his lowest ebb” and was effectively homeless.

He added: “The time he has spent in custody has formed the basis for quite a considerable rethink as to his attitude towards life, and indeed a recognition on his part that alcohol and his failure to stop drinking has been very much at the root of these offences.”

During his time in custody after the attack, which was carried out in September last year, McGuire has completed one-to-one counselling.

Recorder Johnson sentenced McGuire, of no fixed address, to a total of two years imprisonment and imposed a restraining order spanning six years, which prohibits contact of any kind with the victim.