Dad strangled ex when she asked him to take their daughter to school

A man with a history of domestic violence strangled his ex partner during a heated argument when his mum got involved, a court heard. Nathan Abbot, 32, had been due to stand trial at Truro Crown Court today (Monday May 20) in connection with an incident at his mum's house.

On day one of what was scheduled to be a three-day hearing, he pleaded guilty to one charge of intentional strangulation of his former partner, the mother of his two children. At a previous hearing at magistrates' court he also pleaded guilty to a breach of a five-year restraining order preventing him from being in contact with her following a previous assault on her in December 2022.

Katie Churcher, prosecuting, told the court that on this occasion, last November, Abbot's ex partner had stayed at his mum's house in Hayle - both having agreed to it despite the restraining order in place - as she needed more help and support with the children.

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It was heard that she asked him to take their daughter to school as she needed to take their son to Penzance for an eye appointment. He became frustrated and started banging cupboard doors loudly in the kitchen and even kicked the bin in anger. As his ex partner decided to leave the property, Abbot's mother grabbed her by the arm.

An argument followed between the two which is when Abbot, from Harvey's Way in Hayle, grabbed his ex by the throat for what she said felt like 30 seconds and put her in a headlock. Ms Churcher told the court that Abbot's victim tried to fight him off. He eventually let go and she managed to leave the property. Police were called and Abbot was arrested and remanded in custody for being in breach of his restraining order even though it was his mother's home and the two parties had agreed to meet up there.

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The court was told that Abbot has three previous convictions for six offences including assaulting his ex partner and throwing a glass at his own grandfather and grabbing another ex partner by the throat and putting his hand over her mouth.

Althea Brooks, defending, said the incident had happened while Abbot was under an immense amount of stress due in part to a recent bereavement after losing a newborn baby daughter with a different partner a few days prior to the November incident. Ms Brooks told the court that there had been four adults and two children at the house at the time and tension was running high while he suffers from autism and has difficulties dealing with crowded spaces and noisy situations.

"He was trying to assist but the tension was increased and prolonged which explains but does not excuse what happened," Ms Brooks said. "There was extreme pressure in a stressful house."

She also said that Abbot was trying to keep contact with his son from another relationship as there were fears that the boy could be taken into foster care, which Ms Brooks said was adding to the tension and stress. She told the court that Abbot has been a model prisoner while on remand, getting involved with all responsibility jobs on offer.

Recorder Christopher Quinlan, KC, said the incident in November had been aggravated by the fact it had occurred in a domestic setting, with children present, and Abbot had a history of similar violence and had breached a restraining order.

Sentencing Abbot to 27 months in prison (the six months he has spent on remand will count towards it), Recorder Quinlan said: "There was an argument between you and your ex partner. Your mother was involved. You took exception to what your ex partner said to your mum and your argument became violent and you squeezed her neck and had her in a headlock for 30 seconds.

"She tried to fight you off and you resisted her attempt. Strangulation creates a real fear of death. You have a history of violence towards previous partners. Children were present and I find that the strangulation was sustained on this occasion.

"I take in consideration your personal difficulties. In December your ex partner wrote a letter on your behalf in which she didn't see herself as a victim but she was. She was not the first victim at your hands."