Man jailed for choking ex-partner in front of child

MAN JAILED FOR CHOKING EX-PARTNER IN FRONT OF CHILD

A 30-year-old man named Richard Dickinson has been sentenced to a year behind bars following an incident where he attempted to choke his former partner in front of their distressed seven-year-old daughter.

Dickinson had deceived the woman into letting him into her home, falsely claiming he was injured from being stabbed.

Once inside, he started shouting and secured the door using a chain.

The court heard that he then physically attacked her by grabbing her around the neck, resulting in pain and her struggling to breathe.

During the assault, he threatened to stab responding police officers and suggested he might kill his ex-partner too.

The young girl, witnessing the violence and beginning to cry, caused Dickinson to halt his attack by claiming her crying had "saved her life." He then fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by police.

Dickinson, known to have 53 convictions for 97 different offences, many related to violence, has led a troubled life, having grown up in foster care and suffering from issues related to drugs, alcohol, and mental health.

The judge stressed that the seriousness of the crime was heightened by the child’s presence during the assault, as witnessing such violence can cause long-term harm.

A restraining order was also granted to keep Dickinson away from the woman and any place she might go.

He was convicted of non-fatal strangulation, a serious violent offence that left his ex-partner utterly terrified, revealing a pattern of aggressive and dangerous conduct.