Blood-soaked crack addict grabs woman by the neck in lift at block of flats

A terrified grandmother was strangled in a lift by a blood-soaked crack cocaine addict. The horrifying incident occurred around 3pm on March 28 this year when the victim went to visit her friend at Church Walk House, Walker, Newcastle.

Lee Clough, 38, of no fixed address, has left his victim so "scared and anxious" by the incident, she feels she can no longer return to the Newcastle area where her family and friend live.

Prosecutor Jordan Parkinson told Newcastle Crown Court that the woman was attacked by a badly injured Clough as she entered the lift at the flats, leaving her petrified. This news comes after a man brutally killed a woman on the first date and left her body parts around town.

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Miss Parkinson said: "He reached through, grabbing the door as they were closing. He grabbed her by the neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. He lifted her off the floor and against the wall. The incident is captured on CCTV. He can be seen covered in blood, shouting 'give me everything you've got'. She believes he was referring to the drugs she had."

In a statement, the victim said: "As a result of the incident I feel scared and anxious to return to my friend's address or Walker in general. My children and grandchildren live in Walker, meaning I visit there. I fear for my own safety and I'm terrified of another chance encounter occurring again."

Approximately 45 minutes later, Clough arrived at his ex-partner's house, still drenched in blood and violating a restraining order imposed for stalking her. She wasn't home but saw him on a ring doorbell camera where he claimed "I've been stabbed to bits".

Clough, with a history of 25 previous convictions and two suspended sentences - for stalking his ex and drug driving - admitted to intentional strangulation and breaching a restraining order. A previous charge of attempted robbery was dismissed. He has now been sentenced to 21 months in prison, reports Chronicle Live.

Recorder Toby Hedworth KC told him: "It must have been extremely frightening for her, given how she was grabbed by the throat and pinned against the side of the lift, at a time when you were covered in blood and shouting at her."

Kate Barnes, defending, said: "He had visited the flats in question to buy drugs. While there, he was attacked viciously, with a machete to his head, arms and legs.

"It was a chance encounter (with the woman in the lift) and he does know her. He remonstrated with her because he thought she had taken property from him while they were taking drugs.

"He doesn't accept he made any threats to take her property. It's clear from the footage there was no attempt to take the bag she was carrying.

"Having assaulted her, he went to the closest property he knew of, which was his previous partner's address, to do no more than seek assistance from her, bleeding heavily as he was. He is extremely apologetic for any upset he may have caused her."

Miss Barnes stated that Clough, who had previously been employed and had his own business, was addicted to crack cocaine at the time of the offences but is now drug free.