Man, 18, shoved a lit firework through girlfriend’s letterbox days after punching her
A teenager has been ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend after he put a firework through her letterbox.
Alby Hough, 18, was given the five-year restraining order for pushing it through her door when their on-off relationship came to an end.
On November 9, he turned up at her house and let off the firework after she accused him of cheating.
Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told Teesside crown court: ‘She heard a bang and saw lots of smoke coming up the stairs.
‘The defendant had thrown a lit firework through the letterbox.’
Eight days earlier, Hough, who was already on bail for carrying a police baton, assaulted his girlfriend after they argued and he snatched her phone from her.
Ms Haigh said: ‘The next thing she recalls is a sharp pain in the chest. She said the defendant punched her three times with a closed fist. She was crying in pain and struggling to breathe.’
He told his victim: ‘I have never hit you that hard, don’t mess with me.’
Hough, from Stockton-on-Tees, admitted carrying an offensive weapon, assault and arson.
Rod Hunt, defending, said Hough has been in custody since his arrest six months ago and spent his 18th birthday in prison.
He was given a two-year community order, which includes a ban on alcohol, and must take part in compulsory rehabilitation.
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Handing him a restraining order, Recorder Mark McCoke said: ‘You made threats and threw a lit firework through a letterbox. People could have been killed with you doing that. Fortunately, no-one was injured and no damage was caused.
‘If you reoffend in the next two years or breach the terms of this order you can be re-sentenced and it is very likely you will have to go back to custody.
‘You have been punished to a large extent by your time in custody. If you are abusive to girlfriends in the future you can expect a long custodial sentence.’
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