This smug coward broke into his ex-partner’s unit, strangled her twice and repeatedly threatened to kill her. And then he blamed his childhood.

A FORMER call centre worker broke into his ex-partner’s home, choked her twice, threatened to “hang” her by a cord and kill her, and then forced her into a car.

The woman escaped by jumping from a moving vehicle and running to neighbours.

Brendin Luke Dodd began the horrific night-time onslaught because the woman told him months after they had broken up that she was talking to another man.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Friday to eight charges including choking, deprivation of liberty, burglary and assault. The guilty plea was made on White Ribbon Day, which aims to promote domestic violence prevention.

Dodd, 31, will remain behind bars until at least April 2022, when he is eligible for parole after being sentenced to five years in prison.

His former partner now lives with PTSD, had to quit her job working with homeless youth as she could not cope emotionally, fears sleeping and wakes at any noise.

“Each night I would be reminded of that feeling of slowly losing consciousness,” she said in court.

One night when her mother came into her room to check on her, she flung herself into the corner in fear and to protect herself, she said.

Despite her trauma the woman is now studying to work in domestic violence prevention. “I hope that I can heal from this experience … so I can help reduce or prevent even one woman from experiencing the emotional terrorism and horrific level of violence I had to endure,” she said.

Outside court, the woman said she was happy Dodd had received close to the maximum of seven years in prison for choking.

“I think there should be a mandatory minimum because there is such a risk factor. Today is a significant day, not just with the sentence but because it is White Ribbon Day.”

Crown prosecutor Matt Hynes told the court the woman woke about 11.15pm on April 1 to find Dodd standing over her bed holding a cord.

He told her: “You will be hanging from this.”

When she screamed he put his hand over her mouth and told her: “If you are not quiet, I will kill you right here.”

He suffocated her in her own bed until she urinated.

Dodd then forced her outside, telling her: “You ought to be very quiet, if you make a noise I will kill you right here.”

Once outside, the woman was able to escape Dodd’s hold and ran screaming for help.

Dodd followed, tackling her to the ground, causing her to bite her tongue and graze her knees. He then choked her until she passed out.

When she woke, Dodd forced her into the car.

The woman was able to unlock the door and jumped from the car as he tried to drive away. Dodd stopped and went to go after her but neighbours who heard the commotion intervened.

During sentencing, Judge Ken Barlow commended the woman for her strength and choosing to work with domestic violence victims.

“Choking, particularly choking of a woman by a man who has been in relationship with her, is a very serious offence,” he said.

“In my mind a maximum of seven years is nowhere near enough in a number of cases.

“Choking can easily lead to someone dying or suffering from a brain injury.

“You and the complainant are lucky it did not result in death or serious injury to her.”

Judge Barlow said he considered the attack “planned” and “not spur of the moment”.

Defence barrister Jack Kennedy said Dodd suffered a domestic violence attack when he was seven years old when his mother’s boyfriend tied up his family and tried to set the house on fire.

He said due to his upbringing Dodd had begun drinking at age 11 and later got into the drug ice.

Mr Kennedy said Dodd was drunk and on ice at the time.

He said he spent the past seven months in prison in “sober reflection” and was remorseful and wanted to stay sober once released.

Dodd also wrote an apology letter to the woman.