The couple had just met that night when it turned nasty
A drink-fuelled night out turned nasty when a man suddenly warned an unsuspecting woman “I could snap your neck” before strangling her during a “terrifying” confrontation in her home. They had only just met that night and got talking to each other while out socialising but things went badly wrong when they later ended up at her home, Hull Crown Court heard.
Paul Ashurst, 37, of Rothesay Close, off Southcoates Lane, east Hull, admitted an offence of intentional strangulation on August 27, 2023. He pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial.
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that the woman was at a pub in holderness -road>Holderness Road, east Hull, with her partner and his family. Ashurst ended up talking to her and members of her group. They left the pub at the same time.
“They weren’t known to each other,” said Miss Hobson. “He wasn’t in a relationship with her. She was out with someone else.”
The plan was to get some more drinks and continue the night somewhere else but the woman had an argument with her partner and she ended up being just with Ashurst. They got some beers and went back to her home.
While at her home, Ashurst tried to kiss her but she pushed him away. He told the woman: “I could snap your neck” and she was left frightened but she did not want to show it, said Miss Hobson.
The woman phoned her partner. She went back into the room and Ashurst told her again: “I could snap your neck.” He was on his knees while she sat on a bean bag.
He strangled her but she “clawed at his eyes and nose” – causing an injury. “She ran out and called the police,” said Miss Hobson. The woman was helped by one of her neighbours.
The court heard that Ashurst had previous convictions, including two offences of assault in July this year, when he was given 90-day alcohol monitoring order and 15 days’ rehabilitation, and assaulting a police constable as an emergency worker on August 7, when he was fined £200.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that the offence involving the woman happened while Ashurst was on a night out. “They were not known to each other,” said Mr Shipley. “They were all out.”
Ashurst was now sorting out an alcohol problem and he was on an alcohol monitoring tag. “He has not been in trouble for some time,” said Mr Shipley. “He is doing well currently.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Ashurst: “The offence of strangulation is serious because it’s quite terrifying for the victim. They are never to know when the offence is going to come to an end.
“Luckily, your victim was very brave and fought you off and, in fact, caused you some injuries. It wasn’t a prolonged incident but it was quite frightening, and terrifying, indeed, for the victim involved.
“The probation service say your risk can be managed in the community and you can be rehabilitated.” Ashurst was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence and 150 hours’ unpaid work. He was given a five-year restraining order.