The culprit – her boyfriend at the time – then went on to stalk her
New Year celebrations turned nasty when a heavy-drinking bully angrily suffocated his “terrified” girlfriend with a pillow before dragging her out of the house and slamming the door shut behind her. The woman fled to a garden shed but her shocking ordeal did not end there because he forced the door open with a crowbar and strangled her, leaving her in “terror” and fearing that she might die, Hull Crown Court heard.
Michael Charlton, 48, of Bridlington, admitted intentional strangulation of the woman on January 1 and stalking her between the end of January and March 1. He pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial.
Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, said that Charlton and the woman were in a relationship for about six months. They went out drinking in pubs in Bridlington as part of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The woman and her son left to go home and Charlton stayed at the pub and continued drinking. Things later “turned sour” during a conversation about Charlton’s ex-partner.
The woman fell asleep at the house but he awoke her and stood over her with both fists on either side of his head. He was aggressive in her face, rolled her onto her back and forced a pillow onto her face.
“He did so with such force that she could not breathe,” said Mr Donnell. “She felt that he had placed his full body weight on the pillow.”
She believed that it lasted about three minutes. “She tried to fight him off and scratched at him to make him stop,” said Mr Donnell.
Charlton suffocated her mouth and nose. “He grabbed her by her forearm and dragged her out of bed onto the floor,” said Mr Donnell.
“He picked her up, dragged her to the front door, out of the house and slammed the door behind her.” She was in only underwear.
The woman suffered bruising from being dragged out of the house. She went to a shed at the bottom of the garden, locked herself in and wrapped herself in a blanket.
Charlton went to the shed, banged on the door and told her to leave and go away. “He went to his car and collected a crowbar, which he used to force open the door to the shed,” said Mr Donnell.
Charlton went inside the shed, grabbed her neck with both his hands and squeezed. She could not breathe. “She thought that she was going to pass out and feared that she was going to die,” added Mr Donnell.
The woman bit down hard on Charlton’s thumb in self-defence and “terror” and he released his grip. There was so much commotion that a neighbour was awoken by shouting and screaming and she arrived on the scene.
The woman went to her sister’s home. Charlton was arrested but he later continued to contact his girlfriend despite bail conditions.
“His behaviour escalated,” said Mr Donnell. He sent messages and repeatedly went to a pub where she was. “He used every opportunity to speak to her in breach of bail,” said Mr Donnell.
“She made it very clear that she did not want a relationship with him.”
Charlton went to the fish and chip shop where she was working and, when she was walking home, he jumped out from behind a gate where he was hiding.
The woman later said that the incidents had a significant impact on her and her life had been “turned upside down”. She had to leave her job but later got another one.
Connor Stuart, mitigating, said that Charlton had been left profoundly distressed by his conduct and the breakdown of the relationship. “This is serious offending,” said Mr Stuart.
“Genuine shame, remorse and insight are beginning to develop. He wishes he could turn the clock back. He accepts that his behaviour was wrong and harmful. He has stopped all alcohol use.” Charlton, a self-employed joiner, had a strong work ethic.
He had one unrelated previous conviction but he had a caution for assault in December 2023 for a domestic incident in which he threw a plate at an ex-partner’s face, causing a split lip. He previously punched her in the eye, causing bruising.
Judge John Thackray KC said that Charlton launched a “vicious attack” on his girlfriend. “It was prolonged and persistent,” said Judge Thackray.
“Your victim must have been terrified. There was the use of a pillow and then the use of your hands. For a period of about a month, you made your victim’s life a misery.
“She had to make substantial changes to her life. She was entitled to feel safe and secure in your company.
“She had to quit her employment. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Charlton, who had been on bail, was jailed for two years and three months. He was given a 10-year restraining order.