'AMAZING' RELATIONSHIP ENDS WITH PLASTERER STRANGLING HIS TERRIFIED GIRLFRIEND
Drug-user Dominic Simpson strangled his partner and pushed her on a sofa.And the 29-year-old breached a non-molestation order by posting images on social media.
Now Simpson has been sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Edmund Potts said the defendant was in a relationship with his victim from 2017 and initially it was 'amazing'.
But in December 2018 he began to use drugs.
Mr Potts said: "She thought he had returned to his previous use of cannabis but he was using cocaine.
He was erratic and prone to mood swings and anger.
He would manipulate the victim by threatening to kill himself." "In June 2023 she felt unable to cope with the thought of further behaviours.
The abuse continued.
At 3am on January 29, 2024 the victim asked him to sleep upstairs as he was downstairs snoring.
He said, 'You love f****** my life up.
I do not think you understand you little d***head'." "The defendant strangled the victim with both hands around her throat.
She was hardly able to breathe.
The defendant pushed her on a sofa." Simpson was made the subject of a non-molestation order on March 19, 2024, But he breached the order by posting images on social media.
Simpson, of Havergal Walk, Longton, pleaded guilty to breaching a non-molestation order and intentional strangulation.
Emily Andrew, mitigating, said Simpson had reflected that his behaviour was 'disgusting' and 'deplorable'.
Miss Andrew said: "He does not recognise the person he was two years ago and he reassures me he will never behave like that again." "The strangulation was fleeting.
He has remained out of trouble since January 2024.
He has never breached any order of the court.
He would comply with any orders the court makes." Miss Andrew said Simpson had worked for 10 years as a plasterer.
She added: "He has shown genuine emotion and apology for what he has done.
I would ask you to suspend the sentence." As part of the suspended sentence Simpson must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days and 150 hours unpaid work.
He was made the subject of a restraining order which prohibits him from contacting his victim or going to her street for five years.
As part of the suspended sentence Simpson must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days and 150 hours unpaid work.
Judge Richard McConaghy said: "You were aggressive and abusive towards her and you put your hands around her throat and squeezed.
At that point in your life you were using class A drugs.
You were becoming increasingly erratic and regularly abusive towards her, your partner at the time and somebody who was entitled to trust you." "The family court imposed a non-molestation order against you.
You admitted breaching that order by the posting of images on social media.
I accept you are remorseful for what has taken place." Simpson must pay £400 costs.
