Whisky-fuelled 'monster' who punched and strangled his ex during night away at seafront chalet locked up for two years

A "monster" who strangled his ex during a night away at a seafront chalet has been put behind bars.

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Nigel Blackburn repeatedly punched the woman then put his hands around her neck and squeezed after downing whisky.

Newcastle Crown Court heard in the weeks after the attack in May Blackburn bombarded her with unwanted calls.

The victim said in an impact statement, which was read in court: "I genuinely thought he was going to kill me that night."

Prosecutor Neil Jones told the court the victim had been in a relationship with Blackburn, which she "attempted several times to end" before they were booked into the chalet near the beach in South Shields.