Colne drunk attacked and threatened to kill his partner

Jake Marren’s victim Katie Spencer, who had just suffered a miscarriage, was convinced she was going to die at his hands during the early hours outburst at the home they shared in Colne.

Burnley Magistrates Court was told how the defendant grabbed Ms Spencer by the throat, pinned her against a door and threatened to stab and kill her.

The defendant is on post-sentence supervision until next April after serving a jail term and his offender manager says he needs to address issues with anger management and domestic violence. The court was told he “didn’t like the term domestic violence”.

Marren, of New Bath Street, Colne, admitted common assault on September 4th. The defendant, who has 14 previous offences on his record and was released from custody in April, received 10 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and must pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Sentencing him, District Judge James Clarke told Marren he had a “terrible record for violence” which included five previous convictions for assault and had failed to comply with community orders and supervision. The district judge said: “I am going to give you a reason to comply.”

Prosecutor Mrs Tracy Yates told the hearing Ms Spencer would say her relationship with Marren was good from Monday to Thursday when he was sober, but awful when he was drunk at weekends and would make threats.

Cousins and a friend had been invited round to their home at about 9pm, all were drinking and the defendant had too much beer, started causing problems and was arguing with everybody.

Mrs Yates said the victim was talking to a cousin outside when Marren shouted to her, grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against a door, threatening to stab her. The cousin pushed him off, he went back inside and, believing he was going for a knife, the victim ran off and called the police.

The defendant then screamed in Ms Spencer’s face: “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to stab you.” The victim fled.

Mrs Yates added: “She said she was scared throughout the whole incident. She thought he was going to kill her. The relationship is over and she does not want to see him again.”

Miss Deanne McGinty, for Marren, said: “The problems arise when he is intoxicated. They have reconciled their differences and are in a relationship. He does want help in relation to his alcohol and his problem is not something that is going to go away.

“He’s extremely remorseful for his actions. He tells me he’s currently depressed. She has just suffered a miscarriage. They were both upset. He accepts his behaviour was despicable. He is looking for help.”