Bully boyfriend left partner fearing for her life during strangle attack

Ian Stanway, 33, has been jailed.
-Credit: (Image: Facebook)


Former soldier Ian Stanway has been jailed after he strangled his partner in her own home. The 33-year-old was drunk when he carried out the terrifying attack on his victim leaving her fearing for her life.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he grabbed her neck and threw her to the floor. He then sat on the bed and squeezed tight with both hands. He then put his fingers on her eyes and applied pressure, before squeezing her neck again.

It was at this point his victim thought he was going to kill her. He sniggered at her but she was able to escape. Now Stanway has been jailed for 27 months.

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Prosecutor Antony Longworth said the couple had been in a relationship for two years and Stanway was fine when he was not drinking but became abusive and unpleasant after consuming alcohol. Mr Longworth said: "He said he would tell her previous partner, who was abusive to her, where she was living."

Matters came to a head at 12.30am on November 16, 2022 after Stanway had consumed 11 alcoholic drinks. Mr Longworth said: "She was downstairs because she did not want to be near him while he was in drink. She heard him talking to himself and vomiting so she went to collect the youngest child from the cot.

"She thought the defendant was sleeping and went to move past him but he flung his leg out the bed and prevented her getting the child.

"He jumped out of bed. He grabbed her by her neck and threw her to the floor. He sat on the corner of the bed, grabbed her neck with both hands and squeezed tighter. She thought he was going to kill her.

"He placed his fingers on her eyes and applied pressure. He squeezed back to her neck with both hands. She started to feel feint and felt she was going to lose consciousness.

"He sat on the bed sniggering to himself as she tried to flee. She said, 'Either kill me or let me go'. He mentioned killing himself. She said, 'Do it'. She checked on her children who were still asleep and ran downstairs and locked herself in the kitchen."

The court heard the victim reported the attack in the morning. In a victim statement she said she has had to move house. She stopped going out and did not open her curtains for months. She was prescribed anti-depressants.

She added: "Every day is a struggle knowing he is out there. I think if he saw me he would kill me."

Stanway, of Hanley Road, Sneyd Green, pleaded guilty to non fatal strangulation. The court heard he has previous convictions for violence against another former partner.

Rashad Mohammed, mitigating, said the offence happened 20 months ago and Stanway has had no contact with his victim since. Mr Mohammed said: "He has recognised the relationship between them is over. He realises a large part of his problem was his drinking. He was drinking to excess and that was causing difficulties in the relationship.

"He accepts he went over the top. He is ashamed of his behaviour."

He said Stanway served in the Army for four years and had a strong work ethic. Mr Mohammed added: "In the pre-sentence report he is described as a low risk of re-offending."

Recorder Robert Smith made Stanway the subject of a restraining order which prevents him contacting his victim or going to her address for five years. Recorder Smith said: "You strangled her. It was persistent and preolonged. You began to strangle her again. She moved home as a result. She was terrified you would return. She remains scared for her life.

"You have highly relevant convictions for domestic abuse. You are an entrenched domestic abuser.

"This court has a duty to protect the public including previous, current and future partners with whom you may form an intimate relationship. Every potential partner is your next potential victim.

"People who strangle their domestic partners will go to prison if they appear before this court. Strangulation of a partner is utterly despicable behaviour.

"You have been attacking women by grabbing them around the neck for a decade. You are a coward. You have entrenched attitudes that lead you to offend, particularly when in drink. I would be failing in my public duty to the women of this city if I do not send you immediately to prison."

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