Ex-soldier strangled lover in 'despicable' drunken rage attack

Mohammed Husnen was spared jail at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Former soldier Jamie Wheeler who strangled his partner in her home has been spared jail. The 43-year-old, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after serving on the frontline, woke his partner by urinating on the bedroom floor.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she sent him to the bathroom and when he returned he accidentally smashed a lamp and cut his hand. He blamed her, grabbed her neck and applied pressure for four seconds.

She felt she was going to pass out and was left with reddening and scratch marks to her neck. Now Recorder Robert Smith has pulled back from sending Wheeler straight to prison as he served his country in the Armed Forces, he has not offended for 18 years; he is addressing his issues and has expressed remorse and insight into what he did.

READ MORE:Mum's terror as man breaks in and tries to kidnap toddler

READ MORE:End of an era as old Stoke-on-Trent pub demolished

Prosecutor Dylan Wagg told the court the defendant and his victim were in a relationship. Mr Wagg said: "It was an affair and had been going on for seven months.

"On the evening of August 7, the defendant had consumed a substantial amount of alcohol. At 2am the victim was woken by the defendant urinating on the bedroom floor. She told him to go to the bathroom. He did. He returned and accidentally smashed a lamp causing a cut to his hand. He suggested it was her fault.

"He grabbed her around the neck and applied pressure for four seconds. She felt she was going to pass out. Police arrived and Wheeler was at the front door shouting. He was arrested."

Wheeler, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to strangulation. Anis Ali, mitigating, said the defendant, a former fitness instructor who works as a driver, no longer uses cocaine and is addressing his excessive alcohol consumption. He has undergone therapy and is on a waiting list for more.

Mr Ali added that Wheeler's relationship with his victim has ended and he has returned to his former partner. Recorder Smith sentenced Wheeler to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must complete a Building Better Relationships programme; an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme for 120 days; a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days and 250 hours unpaid work.

Recorder Smith said: "You grabbed her by the throat and you strangled her. You accept restricting her ability to breathe for about four seconds.

"Intentional strangulation is utterly despicable behaviour. The court takes a particularly dim view but I am satisfied the mitigation allows me to depart from the ordinary course.

"You have underlying issues arising from your experiences in a war zone, in command of other men. You came out with PTSD.

"You have the support of your partner, a long-suffering and very supportive woman. You are lucky to have her. You have a stable home, a stable job, you are now getting some proper help."

Wheeler was ordered to pay £250 costs.

Get all the latest news from court here