'Pathetic bully' pushed his pregnant partner against a wall and strangled her
A man who strangled his pregnant partner has been jailed. Samuel Barlow, 23, throttled Megan Shearsmith at her Flintshire home, a court heard.
Three weeks later he punched a TV - smashing the screen - and threw a bottle of tomato ketchup which left the victim and the floor covered in sauce. Barlow admitted two counts of causing criminal damage.
He had denied intentional strangulation at Hafan Glyd, Shotton, but was convicted by a jury after a trial. A judge at Mold Crown Court today jailed the defendant for 14 months for the strangulation charge. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
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There were no separate penalties for the criminal damage offences. The court heard the then couple had been decorating a room at Ms Shearsmith's father's home. She was pregnant.
Prosecutor Myles Wilson said Barlow lost his temper over "something and nothing" and ended up pushing her against a wall and putting his hands around her throat. In a separate incident three weeks later he became angry again, smashed the TV and threw the ketchup bottle. He also said she was "pathetic".
Laura Knightly, defending, said her client had become angry but his own issues did not justify placing his hands around Ms Shearsmith's neck. He is sorry for causing the damage and for losing his temper to such an extent that his victim felt the need to call police.
There is evidence that he is taking some responsibility for his actions. Ms Knightly said the probation service feel they can work with Barlow to reduce the risk of harm he poses in future.
The judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands pointed out Ms Shearsmith said he had his hands around her throat for "two minutes going on three minutes". The court heard Barlow, of Welbeck Street South, Ashton-under-Lyne, claimed it was nearer "two or three seconds" and that she was "exaggerating".
The judge said: "It just shows what a coward you are - you were telling her she was pathetic. It's not her who is pathetic. What is pathetic is a man like you bullying a woman."
It would have been a "terrifying ordeal" for Ms Shearsmith, he added. Her neck was sore for several days. Imposing the jail term he also made a five-year restraining order with conditions to prohibit Barlow from contacting his victim.
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