A violent bully viciously attacked his girlfriend on three separate occasions, including strangling her during one frightening confrontation and leaving her with a black eye after another bad-tempered assault.
The “terrifying” incidents were “extremely upsetting” for her and there was a “history of violence” during the volatile relationship, Hull Crown Court heard.
Billy Chadwick, 19, of St John’s Grove, east Hull, admitted intentional strangulation between August 1 and 31 last year, two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm between March 1 and 31 last year and an offence of causing criminal damage on January 31 this year.
Hannah Turner, prosecuting, said that Chadwick was in a relationship with his girlfriend between August 2023 and April last year. They moved in with each other and, after briefly splitting up, rekindled the relationship between July and August last year.
There were difficulties and he began to use violence towards her. There was an argument because he had been out all night with friends and had returned home at 6am under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “There was an argument about where he had been all night,” said Miss Turner.
Chadwick shouted and screamed at his girlfriend, slapped her and dragged her from bed. He kicked her on her arm. He assaulted her again on another occasion and she suffered a black eye.
They had been in the pub with friends and, after returning home, Chadwick became aggressive and argumentative about a comment that had been made by another male. He pushed her to the floor and punched her in the face with a closed fist. She contacted her mother to collect her and later blocked him on social media.
Chadwick contacted her in July last year using an unknown number, asked to see her and begged her to rekindle the relationship. But in August last year, he became enraged and there was an argument. He grabbed her by her throat with one hand and squeezed it with the other, lasting a few seconds before letting go.
During another incident, he picked up a kitchen knife and held it by his side as he screamed and shouted. He punched a door, causing a hole, and smashed her mobile phone.
“There was a history of violence towards her during the relationship,” said Miss Turner. The thought of seeing Chadwick now made the victim upset.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Chadwick regretted his actions and pleaded guilty. He had no previous convictions.
Judge John Thackray KC told Chadwick: “You must know how serious these offences are. You used significant violence on three separate occasions. It can be very terrifying. She found the offences extremely upsetting.”
Chadwick was given a 15-month suspended custodial sentence, a six-month monitoring order, 26 sessions of a probation service programme and 15 days’ rehabilitation. He was given a five-year restraining order.
“This is your opportunity to learn from this and make sure there is no repetition in future relationships,” said Judge Thackray.