Thug threatned to choke his partner
OBSESSED thug Robert Barker wrapped a tea towel around the neck of his girlfriend and threatened to “choke her out” during a catalogue of domestic attacks
The brute made the woman’s life a “living hell” after subjecting her to four separate assaults in the space of a few weeks.
As well as the tea towel attack, he headbutted her, kicked her and punched her, and she said he ruined her life.
Now Barker, 33, who admitted four common assault charges, has been jailed for four months but will be released immediately due to the time he has spent on remand.
Judge Robert Spragg, at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “She said her life has been ruined, you made her life a nervous wreck, you shattered her confidence, she worried about upsetting you, you monitored her every move. She describes the relationship with you as the worst decision of her life.
“You breached the trust inherent in a relationship, which is somewhere someone should feel safe and secure, not subjected to an appalling catalogue of assaults that you subjected her to.”
The court heard the maximum sentence for the attack was six months and Barker was entitled to a discount for pleading guilty.
The judge told him: “If it wasn’t, I would have no hesitation in imposing a longer sentence.”
The court heard the woman told police being in a two-and-a-half year relationship with the 33-year-old was “the worst decision of her life”. As well as the prison term, Barker, of The Avenue, Sunderland, was given an indefinite restraining order to keep him away from the woman.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said the first attack happened in April when Barker punched and bruised her arm.
The second was in May. Mr Wardlaw said: “The defendant was accusing her of being unfaithful.
“He threatened he would choke her out after he put a tea towel around her neck and pulled it tight. She had difficulty breathing.”
During a third attack, in June, he punched and tried to bite her.
In the final attack a few days later, he kicked her leg.
Sue Hirst, defending, said Barker understands his behaviour is “wholly unacceptable” and regrets it.
She said Barker has taken steps to move from his home, which is close to where the woman lives.