Violent burglar who threatened to hang man jailed

A violent burglar who threatened to hang his friend while raiding the man's home has been jailed.

Kanga Jacinto Rodrigues chased after the man with a charging cable after the victim woke to find the 30-year-old in his bedroom, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

In the weeks afterwards, Rodrigues attacked his partner and robbed a student of his smartwatch in Newcastle city centre, the court heard.

Rodrigues, who has a history of violent offences, admitted making threats to kill, burglary, robbery and assault and was jailed for four years and four months.

The burglary victim woke at about 06:00 BST on 14 May 2023 to find Rodrigues in the bedroom of his ground-floor flat in Newcastle, Judge Julie Clemitson said.

The man, who had known Rodrigues for a number of years, was put in a headlock and pushed against a wall after challenging the intruder, the court heard.

Rodrigues told the man to stop shouting or he would "hang" him, before grabbing a charger cable and lunging at the victim, the judge said.

The victim managed to flee through a window but was pursued by Rodrigues who had the man's wallet and attempted to take his television, the court heard.

The man suffered broken ribs in the attack and said he was "frightened for his life", adding the loss of money in his wallet was "sickening".

Having been arrested and released on bail, Rodrigues, of Dean House in Newcastle, attacked an 18-year-old student in Newcastle's Bigg Market at about 03:30 BST on 25 May, the court heard.

Rodrigues repeatedly punched the young man in his face and stole his Apple watch, calling the student "cheeky" when the teenager asked for the device to be handed back.

Judge Clemitson said the attack had left the student and his parents "feeling far more anxious about going out and living a normal student life".

Rodrigues was again arrested and released on bail, this time on condition he be at his home every night between 19:00 and 07:00.

He breached that on 18 June by going out drinking with his partner, ending the night by pushing her against a door and repeatedly hitting her head off a wall leaving her covered in bruises, the court heard.

The court heard he had a history of criminality across Europe including sexual offences, weapons and drugs.

Judge Clemitson said Rodrigues had shown a worrying attitude towards violence and domestic abuse, demonstrated "male privilege" and a "grandiose sense of entitlement".

Restraining orders banning Rodrigues from contacting the burglary victim or his ex-partner for five years were also made.

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