A mum feared she was going to die when her partner dragged her by the hair across the floor and tried to drown her in a dog bowl before strangling her. The mother-of-four was attacked by her partner Lee Payne after he became violent during a domestic incident on April 23 last year.
During a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court today (Tuesday, July 16) Francesca Whebell, prosecuting, said the outburst of violence took place as the couple argued at the victim's home in Torpoint, and Payne was told he would have to sleep downstairs.
Payne grabbed his partner of 17 years by the neck with both hands, which prevented her from breathing, and shouted "just f*****g die". In her statement to the police, Payne's partner said she felt that the strangulation was "going on for ages".
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Ms Whebell told the court that Payne's partner shouted for their 14-year-old son who was in the property at the time of the assault. She added: "The defendant then dragged her across the floor by her hair and pushed her face into the dog water bowl. She thought he was going to drown her. She blacked out a bit but managed to move away.
"He pinned her to the floor again and strangled her. She thought she was going to die."
The prosecutor said Payne's partner tried to get him off her by biting his finger but he did not let go and continued to strangle her. When she finally managed to free herself, Payne went into the kitchen, picked up a knife and pointed it at her. Ms Whebell added: "She felt very threatened."
Payne's partner managed to escape to another part of the house and called the police. She was later taken to hospital where a CT scan was carried out and the extent of her bruises around her face, neck and shoulders was revealed.
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Ms Whebell said Payne's partner had retracted some of her statement to the police as she didn't want him to go to prison as he plays his part in raising their four children aged nine to 14.
Defending the 38-year-old, who has an address in Swindon, Michael Brown said Payne admitted his guilt straight away to the police saying it had been "a moment of pure rage" and he did not know what had come over him as nothing like this had ever happened in nearly two decades with his partner.
In his police interview, Payne said: "I lost it and threw her to the ground and only let go when I thought she was close to death."
Mr Brown said that while not an excuse for his behaviour, Payne, a hard-working man in the plumbing trade, had been under the influence of drink and drugs and had poor mental health. He added: "It is a great shame that a man like him who has led a legally responsible life and shared 17 years with his partner finds himself before the court for such an offence.
"This incident has given him the short sharp shock that he needed to realise that he has a problem and to take steps to deal with his offending. He is now clean of cocaine. He and his partner are still looking forward to looking after their children together. He wants to rebuild that trust with his partner. He has expressed genuine remorse for this offence."
Recorder Simon Levene said this had been a really bad episode of domestic violence involving strangulation and alcohol. Sentencing Payne to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, he told Payne: "You play a full part in the upbringing of your children and your partner wants that to continue. It is not up to victims what they want because people need to be protected even if they say they don't need protecting."
Recorder Levene said he had decided to suspend the prison sentence so Payne could continue with his treatment to beat his alcohol and drug addictions and deal with his mental health issues too.
Payne also received a 12 month community order involving 25 days of rehabilitation to deal with addictions. Recorder Levene added: "I accept that you are genuinely sorry for what you did. I think this has been enough of a wake-up call that you will take advantage of the help the probation services have offered. Do that and you will not find yourself in this court again."