Actor guilty of assault the day after jail release
Jason Hoganson, 53, left HMP Durham on 10 September, having served half an 18-month jail sentence for assaulting Rachel Usher and breaching a restraining order.
The following day he was arrested in Newcastle's West End after going to Ms Usher's flat and slapping her.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard how Ms Usher had died after Hoganson was returned to custody but a district judge ruled the trial should go ahead with her statement as evidence.
Hoganson, who had a leading role in 1987 film Empire State, was among hundreds of prisoners released early in a bid to cut jail overcrowding.
On Friday he was found guilty of assaulting Ms Usher and two counts of breaching a restraining order by going to her home on 11 September and sending her a letter from prison a week earlier.
The court heard Hoganson had been jailed in August for breaching a 2023 court order banning him from contacting Ms Usher and for assaulting her.
By the time he was sentenced, he had already served most of his 18-month term on remand.
A statement from Ms Usher read by prosecutor Lisa Callum said the two had been in a relationship for about six years and Hoganson "used to hit me all the time".
Ms Usher said, on 11 September, she had been waiting for a lift by her flat when Hoganson ran towards her and "slapped me across the side of my face".
"I do not have any injuries but the slap was powerful," she said.
"There was a lot of force behind it.
"He was shouting and bawling and seemed really angry," she said.
Ms Usher said she called the police and Hoganson started to hit his head on an electrical box on the wall.
Hoganson denied the offences, claiming he went to the block of flats to get his belongings from a man who lived there.
Asked by Ms Callum why the man was not in court to corroborate his story, Hoganson accused him of "having an affair" with Ms Usher while he was in prison.
He started shouting obscenities and was removed from court.
Defence lawyer Mark Styles said the defendant had been "unable to process" the loss of Ms Usher because he has been in custody, and his mental health had deteriorated.
Deputy District Judge Natalie Wortley found Hoganson guilty of all three charges.
He is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 25 February.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
Prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding
Actor found after 'evading arrest'
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