Jail for Norfolk man who intentionally strangled partner

Tyler Brown, 24, stormed into the woman's bedroom in the early hours of the morning and strangled her after the couple had earlier had a row about his cocaine use.

Norwich Crown Court heard he pulled off jewellery and clothing in the attack, which came after they had been at a music festival in Earlham Park.

Brown appeared at court on Friday to be sentenced having admitted a new offence of intentional strangulation.

Legislation to tackle the offence, which came into force in June this year, is designed to protect victims of domestic abuse.

He is one of the first people to be convicted of the offence.

Brown and his partner - who has since left him - had known each other for a couple of years and had been in a relationship since March this year.

But the defendant could be "aggressive" and quickly became abusive towards her, which she put down to his use of cocaine.

Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said the couple had been at the Tales in the Park dance music festival on September 24.

However, the victim left early because Brown was discussing taking cocaine.

Brown called her at about 1am on September 25 and told her he could prove he had not taken drugs.

He then went round and grabbed the victim with his  "hands around her throat".

It was the latest in a string of offences Brown had committed against the victim over a four month period.

In an assault on May 10 this year he threw a large carton of juice at her before throwing a box of Cornetto ice creams at her which hit her in the face and caused bruising.

Brown, of Little Dunham, near Swaffham, also admitted a further battery offence and assault causing actual bodily harm on September 8.

He also previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage after he damaged a TV.

Jailing him for two and a half years Judge Katharine Moore said: "You put your hands on her throat tightly so she felt as if she couldn't breathe.

"She thought it lasted a few seconds but it was followed by further physical violence."

Judge Moore added: "All forms of intentional strangulation are one of the most serious forms of domestic violence.

"Intentional strangulation risks catastrophic damage and even death."

Judge Moore said it was a "gross abuse of power" which instils "terror" in the victim "and "says graphically - your life is in my hands".

"You've no right to do it, it's a complete abuse of power and will".

Brown was deemed by the judge to "pose a danger to those that you form an intimate relationship with".

Lynne Shirley, mitigating, said he had pleaded guilty to the offences, and was "really sorry".

She said the strangulation "lasted a matter of seconds".

She said there was "ample genuine remorse" from Brown.

Miss Shirley said he had shown a level of maturity for someone so young.

She insisted drugs and alcohol had an impact on his "thinking, behaviour and actions".

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable David Mills, who led the investigation, welcomed the sentence for what had been a "vicious attack".

He said: "Fortunately, she managed to flee but this has had a dramatic effect on her life.

"He showed a clear intent to strangle and hurt her and I’m pleased we were able to use recent legislation concerning the new criminal offence of intentional strangulation and had a strong investigation to pursue an evidence-led prosecution and ensure he was brought to justice.

"He’s now behind bars where he belongs.”

New offence of non-fatal strangulation

Non-fatal strangulation was made a specific offence as part of the government’s landmark Domestic Abuse Act.

It typically involves an offender strangling or intentionally affecting their victim’s ability to breathe in an attempt to control or intimidate them.

It followed concerns that offenders were avoiding punishment as the act can often leave no visible injury, making it harder to prosecute under existing offences such as Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). 

Studies have shown that victims are seven times more likely to be murdered by their partner if there had been non-fatal strangulation beforehand.

The new offence will also apply to British nationals abroad. It means perpetrators can be prosecuted in England and Wales for offences committed overseas.