South Yorkshire woman subjected to terrifying attack in own bedroom by man

A Barnsley man who assaulted and robbed a mentally-ill woman after falling out with her partner over drugs has been locked up.
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Liam Hodgson stayed overnight at the woman's bungalow on July 28, last year, but burst into her bedroom the next day when she told him he had to leave, prosecutor Brian Outhwaite said.

He pinned her to the bed with a forearm at her throat and demanded to know where her handbag was, before searching the room.

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Unable to find anything, Hodgson left the address, taking cigarettes and a £19 blue-tooth speaker.

Sheffield Crown Court.Sheffield Crown Court.
Sheffield Crown Court.

The woman was left with minor injuries, but said in a statement she struggled to sleep afterwards and was now afraid of encountering Hodgson in Doncaster.

The court heard he has 22 previous convictions, including burglary, handling stolen goods and possession of heroin with intent to supply.

He entered a guilty plea at his trial, on the basis that no knife was used during the offence.

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Chris Aspinall, mitigating, said the woman’s friend was an "associate of Hodgson's," and they had "a mutual interest in illicit substances."

"There was a disagreement between the two of them and he did what he did," he said.

"He is content to take his medicine. He is 29 years old and needs to move on, otherwise his life is wasted."

He said Hodgson had received help for drug rehabilitation while he was on remand.

Hodgson, 29, of Abbots Road, Lundwood, was jailed for three-and-a-half years, and was banned from contacting the woman permanently.