She then lunged towards her with a knife and held it against her neck
An aggressive and jealous woman repeatedly punched her terrified girlfriend, gripped her around the neck and threatened to kill her after angrily accusing the woman of cheating on her. Drug user Poppy Tyson had been “smoking far too much cannabis” before the violent attack and the shocked victim had been left suffering “horrendous” sleep problems and flashbacks, Hull Crown Court heard.
Tyson, 25, of All Saints Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted assaulting the woman on May 11 and assaulting her, causing actual bodily harm, on June 8. She denied intentional strangulation and making threats to kill and those charges were dropped, although the details still formed part of the overall prosecution case.
Holly Thompson, prosecuting, said that Tyson began a romantic relationship with the woman but there was an argument and Tyson repeatedly accused her of being unfaithful. She became aggressive and punched her in the head and face at about 10.30pm on June 8, causing a cut lip.
Tyson continued to punch her, causing injuries to her stomach and back. She grabbed the woman’s neck and pushed her up against an airing cupboard. Tyson was gripping her neck and the woman was struggling to breathe during 30 seconds of strangulation.
Tyson threatened to kill her girlfriend and the woman feared for her life. The victim tried to leave the bedroom but Tyson ran around the side of the bed and lunged towards her, holding a long knife.
She put the knife against her girlfriend’s neck for about a minute and repeatedly told her that she was going to kill her before moving the knife away from the woman’s neck. The woman still could not leave the bedroom.
Tyson’s brother shouted upstairs, causing her to stop what she was doing. She allowed him to come in. The girlfriend left in a taxi. The police were alerted.
The woman told police about another incident on May 11 when they were at Tyson’s home and an argument broke out. Tyson accused her of cheating and being a “sl*g”. They were in the bedroom when Tyson walked up to her, became aggressive and punched her in the chest twice.
Tyson was arrested on June 9 at her home. A knife was found in the kitchen sink. During interview, she denied assaulting or strangling the woman in any way, using a knife or knowing how the injuries were caused.
The woman later said: “This entire situation has greatly affected me. I feel physically and mentally drained.” She had become more nervous and panicky and her sleep patterns were “horrendous” with flashbacks coming in waves.
Tyson had been given a community order on July 28 for offences including assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker and possessing cannabis. She had a conviction for threatening to stab a neighbour.
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Tyson knew that she behaved badly towards her girlfriend and that it must have been an upsetting experience for the woman. She accepted that the relationship was over.
“She has no intention of attempting to resume that,” said Mr Robinson. “These offences were committed against a backdrop of drug misuse. She was smoking far too much cannabis at the time.
“She saw little wrong with that. That position has changed now she has been in custody. She feels better for it and hopes to stay abstinent on her release. She realises that there is no excuse for this behaviour.”
Tyson was jailed for two years and four months. She was given a five-year restraining order.