Woman 'fled through window to escape abuser'

A domestic abuser whose victim had to jump with a fractured eye socket through a window to escape him has been jailed for two years and three months.

Benjamin Ypma, 42, attacked his partner multiple times in September 2025, on one occasion strangling and punching her in a rage after Newcastle United conceded a goal, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The woman told the court she had been manipulated, isolated and assaulted by her abuser and he had "absolutely wrecked" who she was.

Ypma, from Washington, had cautions for domestic violence on his record, and admitted two counts of assault by beating and one of intentional strangulation.

The couple had been together since August 2022 but as their relationship deteriorated last summer, the woman was "belittled, bullied and beaten" by Ypma, prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said.

On 18 September they were at Ypma's home watching Newcastle United's Champions League game against Barcelona, the court heard, which the Spanish side went on to win 2-1.

After Barcelona scored, Ypma smashed a glass and became "verbally abusive", the court heard.

The woman went to leave but Ypma grabbed her by the neck and squeezed until she almost passed out, then threw her to the ground, hit her in the face with a shoe and punched her, bursting her lip, Kaur said.

She was only able to leave about an hour later, the court heard.

The following day Ypma went to the woman's house and demanded she go with him to find his bank card and phone back at his home, the court heard.

Once there he attacked her again, pulling her to the ground by her hair, kneeing her in the ribs and punching her in the face, the court heard.

The woman "jumped out of a window" to escape, Kaur said, and she was later diagnosed with a fractured left eye socket.

The woman told the court she felt "isolated and manipulated" by Ypma before he assaulted her.

She said she thought she was "going to die" when he strangled her and he "became angry over a football match".

Her life had "changed massively" because of Ypma, she said, adding: "[He] has absolutely wrecked who I was."

In mitigation, the court heard Ypma developed an alcohol problem after losing a leg in a workplace accident, with a prison spell likely to lead to the loss of his adapted accommodation.

Judge Sarah Mallett said the offences were so serious only immediate imprisonment would suffice.

She also made a restraining order banning Ypma from contacting the woman for 10 years.

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