County Durham man jailed for violent abuse after victim used PlayStation to call for help

COUNTY DURHAM MAN JAILED FOR VIOLENT ABUSE AFTER VICTIM USED PLAYSTATION TO CALL FOR HELP

An attack victim used a games console to send a message pleading for help as she was attacked by a man she feared would kill her.Sean Gibson attacked the woman on several occasions, often pinning her to the floor and restricting her breathing, police say.

But after being controlled and abused to the point she thought she was 'going to die', the victim managed to send a message to her friend using a PlayStation console, asking her to call 999 on her behalf.Following the 999 call, officers from Durham Constabulary arrested Gibson quickly arrived and arrested Gibson at a home in Langley Park, County DurhamThe 34-year-old, who police have described as "violent and controlling" was charged with assault by beating, intentional strangulation and intentional suffocation.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and was handed a 27-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court last week.The victim suffered multiple injuries including swelling to the jaw and burst blood vessels, police say.Safeguarding Detective Elizabeth Garfoot, of Durham Constabulary, has now urged others suffering abuse to seek help.She said: “Due to the victim’s bravery and quick-thinking, she has seen her abuser jailed for a considerable amount of time.

Although this sentence will never be enough, I hope she can begin to move on with her life and put this horrific and traumatic chapter behind her.

If you are suffering abuse, please know you are not alone, we will always listen to you.”