Police had to use a Taser to subdue him, the court heard
A bullying boyfriend angrily accused a “petrified” woman of cheating on him before suddenly grabbing her around her throat and strangling her in a hotel room after a night of drinking. Violent and bad-tempered Stephen Shepherd was later Tasered by police in a bid to calm him down but he defiantly continued being aggressive even after he was handcuffed.
The shocked woman had “never felt so petrified” and she was left fearing what he might be capable of doing next, Hull Crown Court heard. Shepherd, 29, formerly of Westbourne House hostel, Princes Avenue, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted offences of intentional strangulation and assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, on February 2. He also admitted causing criminal damage to her passport and two offences of assaulting police officers as emergency workers.
John Hobley, prosecuting, said that the woman was in a relationship with Shepherd for about six months but they separated shortly before the incidents. They began communicating again and arranged to meet on February 1. She booked a room in a Hull hotel.
They were drinking and things became “rowdier” in the early hours of February 2 when Shepherd accused her of being unfaithful to him and he slapped her across her face. He claimed that she had cheated on him and he grabbed her around her throat and strangled her, restricting her breathing.
She told him that she needed her passport so that she could leave but he told her: “You’re not going anywhere” – and tore the passport in half. The police were alerted by the woman’s nephew but Shepherd again told her that she was not going anywhere unless it was with him.
He warned her: “Don’t f***ing say anything.” Two police officers went to the hotel room and the woman was seen sitting on a bed, looking petrified as though she had been crying. Shepherd became aggressive and was flailing his hands around.
He pushed a female officer away and threw a punch at a male officer, knocking off his glasses and earpiece. A Taser was used to subdue Shepherd.
“Even after he was handcuffed, he continued to be aggressive,” said Mr Hobley. Shepherd tried to stand on the officer’s glasses, which had landed nearby. The woman later said that she had never felt so petrified and that she was scared of what Shepherd might do in the future.
Do you feel safe where you live? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here.
During police interview, Shepherd made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 68 previous offences, including assault causing actual bodily harm in 2013, seven offences of assault between 2008 and 2021, three of assaulting police and 13 of criminal damage.
Jazmine Lee, mitigating, said that Shepherd’s emotions overwhelmed him at times and he was frustrated at finding himself in custody again. After his previous release from prison, he worked hard at getting himself back on track. He had engaged with the probation service and, before being remanded in custody, he had worked full time as a fisherman, taking pride in that.
“He spends more time offshore than he does on land and feels at peace there,” said Miss Lee. “He is ridding himself of negative influences.” Shepherd was jailed for two years and he was given a five-year restraining order.