Actor found guilty of assaulting ex-partner just one day after walking free from jail under early release scheme
24 January 2025, 22:09
A former actor who was one of hundreds of prisoners released early in a bid to cut jail overcrowding has been found guilty of assaulting his former partner the day after he was freed.
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Jason Hoganson, 53, was photographed raising a thumb as he was released from HMP Durham on September 10 last year, having served half of an 18-month jail sentence for assaulting his ex-partner 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.
A court heard Ms Usher had since "very sadly passed away" after Hogan was returned to custody, but a district judge ruled that a trial should still go ahead with her statement as evidence.
On Friday Hoganson, who had a leading role in the 1987 film Empire State, was found guilty of assaulting Ms Usher and two counts of breaching a restraining order by going to her home on September 11 and sending her a letter from prison a week earlier.
The defendant was removed from court in the middle of his evidence after he started shouting obscenities at prosecutor Lisa Callum, and was not present to hear the verdict.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard a restraining order was made in July 2023 banning Hoganson from contacting Ms Usher "in any way whatsoever".
He was jailed in August last year for breaching that order and assaulting Ms Usher in December 2023.
By the time he was sentenced he had already served most of his 18-month term on remand.
The court was shown a letter, found to have been written by Hoganson, sent to Ms Usher from HMP Durham telling her he loved her.
A statement from Ms Usher read by Ms Callum said the two had been in a relationship for about six years and Hoganson "used to hit me all the time".
The statement said: "I'm aware he was released two days ago - earlier than he should have been."
Ms Usher said on September 11 she was leaving her flat to go to the shops and was waiting for a lift when she saw Hoganson running towards her.
She said: "He opened the door of the stairwell and slapped me across the side of my face.
"He was shouting and bawling and seemed really angry. He called me a slut and said there was someone in my flat.
"He said can we go somewhere and when I said no he got even more angry."
Ms Usher said she called the police and Hoganson started to hit his head on an electrical box on the wall.
Her statement read: "I do not have any injuries but the slap was powerful. There was a lot of force behind it."
Ms Usher also described how receiving the prison letter "made me feel horrible and sick inside".
Hoganson told the court: "I was released with the 1,500 that were released on September 10 last year but ... I'd done my full half of the 18 months."
Hoganson denied the offences, claiming he went to the block of flats to get his belongings from a man who lived five floors above Ms Usher.
He said he went to get the lift back to the ground floor and saw Ms Usher when it stopped on her floor.
Hoganson told the court: "Obviously she panicked. She came straight for me and went to attack me. I've moved out of the way down the stairs. I've never attacked Rachel.
"I never even spoke to her, I just wanted to get out of there."
Asked by Ms Callum why the man who had his belongings was not in court to corroborate his story, Hoganson accused the man of "having an affair" with Ms Usher while he was in prison, and started shouting obscenities, ultimately being 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 had experienced a deterioration in his mental health.
Deputy District Judge Natalie Wortley found Hoganson guilty of all three charges, saying she was satisfied he was the author of the letter, and that his account of stumbling when Ms Usher "darted at him" was inconsistent with CCTV footage from the building which showed him deliberately striking the wall.
The judge adjourned the case for Hoganson to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on February 25.
