Attacker tried to strangle girlfriend

HE LEAVES COURT IN TEARS AFTER SUSPENDED SENTENCE

A WOMAN said her ex-partner was “going crazy” before he twisted his ripped T-shirt around her neck.

She could not speak and was gasping for air during the terrifying attack after a night out in June 6, 2019.

After receiving a suspended sentence, her attacker – Anton Scott, who she lived with in Windmill Lane, Sneinton, for about three months – left court in tears yesterday.

The argument had kicked off because he had been embarrassed by her drunkenness the night before.

After striking her in bed with the back of his arm, throwing a bowl at a wall and throwing punches at her face, he grabbed her by her hair and slammed her head on the floor.

As the row escalated, he gritted his teeth as he used his T-shirt – which she grabbed and ripped – to tie around her neck.

David Eager, prosecuting, said: “The defendant had a T-shirt on his arm and used it as a tourniquet, wrapping it around her neck and twisting it.

“She couldn’t speak and was gasping for air.”

She thought he was not going to stop, Nottingham Crown Court heard yesterday.

He then put his hands around her throat so hard that she struggled to breathe.

He eventually came to his senses and stopped. Afterwards, she complained of having PTSD and anxiety, and was affected physically, emotionally and mentally.

She had bruising and swelling across her body and face and went to hospital to be checked over.

She even went on a course for one-to-one trauma-based counselling which was “extremely beneficial”, the court heard.

She has since developed new friendships, her confidence has grown and she had gone out to work again.

Scott, 31, of Hooton Road, Carlton, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.

Scott had started a relationship with the woman but fairly quickly realised it was perhaps “toxic” both ways and was not good for either of them, said his lawyer Benn Robinson. Recorder Michael Auty QC said the offence was three years ago – which was partly down to Scott initially pleading not guilty, “but for reasons I struggled to understand, this case began by postal requisition; at least half of the delay is down to that process”. The advantage of the delay had given the judge the opportunity to see how the defendant had behaved since and how he had tried to make something of himself. But, going over the offence’s seriousness, he said it was against a defenceless woman who would have been “far less capable than you”. “It was sustained and, worst of all, involved an element of strangulation,” he added. Scott was given 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, 40 rehabilitation activity days, 120 hours of unpaid work and an order to pay £1,000 compensation to his now ex-partner. A seven-year restraining order was imposed.

[The attack] was sustained and, worst of all, involved an element of strangulation Recorder Michael Auty QC