North Shields thug who racially abused Metro guard and suffocated ex-partner jailed

A thug who racially abused a Metro guard and suffocated a former partner has been jailed.

During a torrent of abuse Lewis Nicholson, 26, told the guard at North Shields Metro Station to go back to his home country, along with other racially aggravated language, and threatened to throw staff on the tracks. Newcastle Crown Court heard Nicholson appeared intoxicated and officers arrived at the station on the evening of 11 July, 2023.

The court was told as officers attempted to handcuff Nicholson, of Clifton Gardens, North Shields, he continued to be verbally abusive.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the victim said: “This whole situation made me feel scared. He could actually have assaulted me and caused damage.”

The victim said he had changed his role and didn’t come to work to be racially abused, branding it “disgusting behaviour”.

In a separate incident, Nicholson attended his former partner’s home in May last year after she telephoned him to end the relationship. The court was told the defendant banged on the front and back door of the property, and when the victim answered the door he refused to leave.

The court was told the defendant appeared again and “lunged” towards the victim and took hold of her neck. He then spat towards the victim and her mother who had appeared at the door.

In a second incident in June last year involving the same woman, the defendant was walking with the victim in the Tynemouth area when an argument took place. The court heard Nicholson called the woman a series of names including a “rat” before they returned to an area where they planned to camp near Tynemouth Aquarium.

The court was told the defendant then shouted in the victim’s face and as she was preparing to leave the defendant grabbed her neck with one hand and covered her mouth with the other. The court was told the woman felt her eyesight turn blurry and she was unsure if she lost consciousness.

In mitigation, the court was told Nicholson had “not been idle” whilst in custody and had completed multiple courses. The court heard he was “remorseful” and “realised the consequences of his actions.”

On sentencing Judge Edward Bindloss said: “[The victim] has had to change his role at work and doesn’t want to cover the Metro after the racial abuse you directed at him. [The woman] said she was petrified to leave her home address and said what you have done to her has caused her to be anxious and depressed.”

Nicholson pleaded guilty to racially aggravated public disorder offence, assault by beating and intentional suffocation. He was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison, which included the activation of a suspended sentence, and a restraining order of seven years against his former partner was also issued.