He had previously strangled another partner and is facing an assessment on the level of danger he poses
Joseph Antcliff was jailed at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A violent bully who was jailed for strangling his “terrified” girlfriend during an “incredibly dangerous” attack faces another prison sentence after he did the same thing to another woman. Aggressive and bad-tempered Joseph Antcliff was given a two-year prison sentence in April 2023 for the first strangulation offence but he is now in custody again for another – and is facing an assessment on the level of danger he poses to other potential victims.
In the latest case, another man desperately tried to pull him off the victim but Antcliff menacingly warned that he would not be leaving until the woman was dead, Hull Crown Court heard. Antcliff, 29, of Anlaby Park Road South, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, denied an offence of intentional strangulation on August 24 last year but he was convicted by a jury after a trial.
Marc Luxford, prosecuting, said that Antcliff had been in a relationship with a woman for about a year but it ended just before the violent incident. They had been drinking socially and returned to her home in Hull at about 10.30pm.
The boyfriend of the woman’s daughter heard arguing between Antcliff and the woman. It continued and the daughter went outside, prompting her boyfriend to follow her. The woman and Antcliff remained inside.
The boyfriend heard shouting from the woman in the early hours and he went back inside. He saw Antcliff with his legs on top of the woman and his hands around her neck. He shouted for Antcliff to get off her.
In a panic, he grabbed Antcliff from behind and tried to pull him off the woman. They both fell but, despite falling, Antcliff did not loosen his grip around the woman’s neck.
Antcliff said: “I’m not leaving until she is dead.” The boyfriend punched Antcliff three or four times while acting in defence of the woman.
He stopped when he saw that Antcliff was bleeding and that he had let go of the victim. The police arrived and Antcliff was arrested.
The woman suffered significant swelling to the side of her face and marks on her neck, consistent with strangulation. Antcliff claimed during interview that he did not use any unlawful violence, although he admitted arguing with the woman.
He claimed that the woman was being antagonistic and was arguing. He claimed that he felt a punch to the side of his head and that he was left covered in blood but he managed to call the police.
The boyfriend went voluntarily to Clough Road police station, Hull, where police decided not to charge him with any offences because of Antcliff’s behaviour. After Antcliff was convicted by the jury, he was remanded in custody for reports and to await sentence. The probation service will prepare a dangerousness report on him.
In April 2023, Antcliff was jailed for two years and he was given a five-year restraining order admitted intentional strangulation of another woman on March 26, 2023. On that occasion, he covered his ex-girlfriend’s mouth and nose, leaving her hallucinating and completely unable to breathe, while she was in bed.
He taunted her with a “sinister” warning that she would end up in a suitcase by the end of that night and she was left fearing that she would die. She could have been killed or left with brain damage because of his “gratuitous, dangerous” actions and she was later just “glad to be alive”.
It was the second time that Antcliff had strangled her in “incredibly similar” circumstances, the court heard that day. On the first occasion, he warned her: “I’ll finish you off and put you six feet under.”
The earlier hearing was told that the couple had been in a relationship for about eight years at the time but they split up in July 2022. They rekindled their relationship in January 2023 but it “turned toxic” and gradually worsened.
The woman went to bed at about 10.15pm and Antcliff was packing his suitcase in another bedroom. There was a comment about whether an item would fit inside it. Antcliff told her: “I know something else that will fit – you. You will be in a suitcase by the end of tonight.”
She did not reply, fearing that it would trigger violence from him if she did. Antcliff told her: “If I can’t have you, nobody else will and, I’m sorry, I have got to do it.”
Antcliff got into bed with her, cuddled her and then grabbed her by her neck with his left hand, with his right hand over her mouth and nose. He squeezed her neck tightly to the point that she could not move her head.
She could not breathe through her mouth and nose. The woman left the house at 8am while Antcliff was asleep in bed.
She was “left feeling glad to be alive” and felt as though she was suffering hallucinations during the attack.
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