Man put his thighs around partner's neck until she struggled to breathe

A man assaulted his partner and knelt with his thighs around her neck till she couldn't breathe. The woman screamed for help and a neighbour came to her aid.

Leighton Jones, 27, of Park Road, Colwyn Bay, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm to the woman. A judge today jailed him for ten months suspended for 18 months.

Mold Crown Court heard the two had met at a homeless hostel. They moved into their own homes and began a relationship in July last year. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

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But there were disagreements and arguments. On September 2 last year she asked him to come to her flat and bring a can of Coke.

He arrived at her flat in Rhyl but had been drinking. He stripped naked and asked the woman to perform an intimate act.

She refused and went to the bathroom and he fell asleep. The following day he followed her to her bedroom and tried to get into bed with her. She moved to her daughter's bedroom and he followed her there.

She asked him to leave her home several times but he refused. She locked herself in the bathroom but he banged on the door saying he needed to use the toilet.

Eventually she rang police at 6.30am but hung up as she didn't want to get anyone into trouble, the court heard. She tried to pack his things but he refused to leave again.

She said she would phone the police but he lunged at her, trying to take her phone. On the stairs he sat with his thighs astride her neck till she couldn't breathe, the court heard.

A neighbour heard a woman shout: "Help me, get off me!" She came into the flat but couldn't pull Jones away.

The neighbour called for her son and Jones got off. The woman sustained bruising on her arms and other injuries.

Police were called and Jones told officers the couple had argued but he had only followed her around the property "out of concern" for her. He accepted grabbing her phone.

The judge His Honour Niclas Parry told the defendant: "Because she would not do what you wanted she moved from room to room no doubt because she was afraid."

He had demeaned her, he had been drinking and he caused injuries. But the judge said he saw that Jones has his own vulnerabilities.

Suspending the jail sentence, he ordered him to do 100 hours of unpaid work. He must also do 15 days of rehabilitation activity and attend 35 sessions of a required programme.

The judge also made a restraining order prohibiting Jones from contacting his victim for five years.

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