Bodgan Gabriel Colt, otherwise known as Gabe, chased mum-of-two Claire Hoggins with the blade through a street in Edinburgh on August 24 last year.
Evil Bodgan Gabriel Colt
A young nurse was chased by her axe-wielding partner before he smashed the weapon through her car in a terrifying act of violence.
Bodgan Gabriel Colt, otherwise known as Gabe, chased mum-of-two Claire Hoggins with the blade through a street in Edinburgh on August 24 last year.
The 39-year-old, originally from Romania, launched the frenzied attack on the mother after accusing her of cheating and attacking her at her home in Saline, Fife.
He was able to track her down to her friend’s address in the capital after bugging her car with a tracker.
Colt will be sentenced next month
A jury found the thug, who lives in Bathgate, guilty of engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive of his partner by repeatedly calling her names, accusing her of cheating and tracking her car and chasing her while armed with an axe.
He also admitted being in possession of the axe and smashing up her vehicle with the weapon and was convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, September 25.
He is currently on bail until sentencing next month.
Speaking to the Record, one of Claire’s relatives told how Colt began accusing her of cheating before becoming violent.
The family member, who asked not to be named, said: “Claire is absolutely terrified, he’s turned her life upside down.
“The abuse began with him constantly accusing her of cheating before it turned seriously violent.
“Claire has male friends who she’s known her whole life and he just couldn’t accept that. He was too jealous.”
Mum of two Claire
The pair struck up a relationship after meeting at a care home in Fife, where Claire worked as a senior nurse and Colt was employed as a care assistant.
They were together for over two years.
Claire’s relative continued: “The day before he chased her around Edinburgh with an axe, he was abusing her at work.
“He was constantly accusing her of cheating with her friends and even her boss.
“At work, he threatened to chop her with an axe and said he was going to cut her legs off.
“He was true to his word because 12 hours later, he chased her with the weapon and smashed up her car.”
Colt launched the axe through a tree following the terrifying ordeal
Colt launched a brutal attack on Claire in her own home just hours before he chased her along a residential street with an axe.
Armed cops were able to end the terrifying pursuit after the alarm was raised by her friend’s neighbours.
Images show the windscreen and rear window of Claire’s car smashed following the horror ordeal last year.
The axe was also pictured lodged through a tree after Colt was arrested by police.
Her family member said: “He chased her up and down the street with an axe in his hand.
“She was screaming and crying for help. She was so terrified.
“Her friend’s neighbours could see what was going on from their windows so they phoned the police.
“Thankfully, armed police were prompt in arresting him.
“This monster is a danger to women and realistically should never have been granted bail.
“The fact he pleaded not guilty the whole way through this trial is proof that he shows no remorse over his actions.
“Claire is grateful to the jury for seeing through his lies but has been left with severe trauma and suffers every day from PTSD.
“I hope the Sheriff locks him up next month – jail is the only place he deserves to be.”
The thug smashed Claire’s car during the terrifying axe chase
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