No more jail time for choke

A TRUCK driver who headbutted and strangled his partner until she could not breathe only stopped when he got a “fright”, a court was told.

Shane Peter Speechley, 35, walked from the Southport District Court on his birthday on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple charges including strangulation and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Judge Paul Smith sentenced him to 19 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Judge Smith took into account the 531 days Speechley had already spent in custody.

The court was told Speechley and his now former partner got into an argument about infidelity on August 5, 2019 and the woman slapped Speechley.

“When a woman does that to you, you walk away,” Judge Smith told Speechley during sentencing.

WHEN A WOMAN DOES THAT TO YOU, YOU WALK AWAY

JUDGE PAUL SMITH

Instead, Speechley palmed the woman and headbutted her in the face and strangled her for about 15 seconds. She was not able to breathe.

The court was told Speechley only let go because he got a fright when he saw the woman was not bleeding.

The woman suffered bruising to the face and neck and only escaped when she called her mother.

A few months later on December 19, 2019, Speechley assaulted the woman again, biting her hand and pulling her hair. When police were called, Speechley tried to run away.

Defence barrister Russell Pearce, instructed by Oden Legal, said Speechley and his partner were in a “loving relationship” until they started experimenting with the drug ice.

Mr Pearce said Speechley was hoping to get work as a truck driver, otherwise he had a job offer with his dad in Sydney.