A JEALOUS lover who feared his girlfriend was cheating on him tried to strangle her in a hospital car park, threatened to kill her during a clear-the-air walk in the woods and beat up his suspected love rival, a court heard.

Ryan Lancaster had become increasingly controlling and possessive during the two-year relationship, Durham Crown Court was told, and his anger erupted when he found text messages on his 18-year-old partner’s mobile phone on October 31 last year.

When Lancaster confronted her, the woman ran to her car, parked at the University Hospital of North Durham, Durham City, and locked herself inside, prosecutor Ian Mullarkey said.

But Lancaster managed to get in and started strangling her, first from behind and then on the front seat. The police were called and Lancaster was cautioned.

But just a few hours later he arranged to meet his suspected love rival, outside a pub in Spennymoor, County Durham.

A fight broke out and Lancaster repeatedly punched the man and karate kicked him to the head. The man was sent flying across the alley and knocked unconscious. He suffered a fractured cheekbone and needed surgery.

Lancaster then contacted his girlfriend to suggest they talk things through and so they went for a walk in isolated woods near her home on November 16.

But he started threatening her, saying it would be a nice place to kill someone, cut them up and hang them from the trees, Mr Mullarkey said.

He also spat in her face and produced a six-inch bladed knife.

The woman thought she was going to die and started praying he would not hurt her, the court heard, and the incident has had a devastating impact on her life: troubling her at night and causing her to mistrust everyone.

Lancaster, of St Paul’s Close, Spennymoor, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and common assault and was convicted of making threats to kill.

Representing the 20-year-old, barrister Ian West said it had been Lancaster’s first real relationship and his actions were borne out of jealous, possessiveness and immaturity.

He had entered early guilty pleas, Mr West added, and his only previous conviction was for stealing milk as a child.

Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Lancaster to five-and-a-half years in a Young Offenders’ Institution.

He also thanked the woman for giving evidence during the trial and explaining the impact her now-ex-partner has had on her life.