A man has narrowly avoided prison after strangling his partner of 25 years three times in a matter of minutes, once to the point she passed out. Byron Anderson, 40, of Fletcher Terrace, Houghton-le-Spring, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault by beating at Newcastle Crown Court.
The court heard that Anderson had started taking crack-cocaine to deal with the deaths of his mother, brother and friend, and his subsequent behaviour caused the breakdown of his relationship. When confronted about his drug use by his girlfriend in the kitchen of their home, he responded by slapping her across the face, threatening to slit her throat with a knife he was holding, and punching her to the face, causing her to fall to the floor.
Attack in the kitchen
Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said Anderson and his partner had been in a relationship for 25 years and shared five children together when he started taking crack-cocaine. Some time between late May and early June this year, she confronted him about this.
Miss Butt continued: "She commented that the defendant was a crack head who needed to sort out his drug problem. The defendant responded by slapping her across the face and threatening to slit her throat with a kitchen knife he was in possession of.
"The defendant punched [the victim] to the head with sufficient force to make her legs go limp and causing her to slump to the floor, striking the door of the washing machine." The court heard that Anderson went over to the woman and, rather than apologise, he grabbed her by the hair.
Second attack in July
Having been left with bruising to her face, the woman moved out but returned on July 4 to collect some belongings. Anderson was inside the address and launched another attack, grabbing her by the throat.
Miss Butt said that Anderson grabbed the victim by the neck and squeezed but she managed to get free and started to run away. However, he caught up with her and strangled her again, this time causing her to pass out. When she came round, the victim began to scream but Anderson responded by putting his elbow in her mouth and strangling her again, causing her to lose consciousness once more and control of her bladder.
Miss Butt added: "She regained consciousness and was in fear for her life. She bit his arm and managed to escape the address."
Sentence and requirements
The police arrived at the scene having already been called by a neighbour who'd heard the victim's screams, and Anderson was arrested. The court heard that Anderson had no past convictions.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said: "He expresses remorse for his actions and largely accepts the prosecution account. He acknowledges it was out of character and accepts full responsibility for the harm caused to his former partner."
Giving Anderson a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Georgina Nolan said: "This is a very serious offence and this is a culpability A case. That applies where there is sustained and repeated strangulation and that's exactly what happened in your case. You placed your hands around her neck on three occasions. On the second occasion, she passed out and, on the third, lost consciousness and control of her bladder. It was an incredibly dangerous thing to do."
Anderson was also ordered to do a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a six-month mental health treatment requirement. He was also made subject of a two-year restraining order.
