Man strangled girlfriend over 'revealing' clothes

A man strangled his girlfriend after an argument over her outfit on a night out, a court has heard.

John Lowther, 28, admitted strangulation and assault by beating during the incident in August 2023, but was spared a custodial sentence at Bradford Crown Court earlier.

However, he was warned that his actions could have been fatal by Judge Christopher Smith, who said that "the same pressure as opening a can of Coke" could cause death by strangulation.

He handed Lowther, of Sowerby Bridge, a 12-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.

Judge Smith added: "I want to give you a chance to show me that you can keep yourself out of trouble."

A two-year restraining order preventing contact with the victim, a curfew and a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement were also imposed on Lowther, of Horley Green Road.

The court heard that the couple had been on a night out in Sowerby Bridge when Lowther told his girlfriend that her clothes were too revealing.

Prosecuting, Nathan Davis said an argument began and continued when they got home, when Lowther demanded to know who she was texting. He then became aggressive.

"He put his hands around her neck and squeezed," Mr Davis said.

He added that the victim had told police that she could still breathe, but the pressure had "stopped her from screaming for help".

Frightened, the victim had locked herself in the bathroom and phoned someone, while Lowther demanded to know who it was, Mr Davis said.

He added that when Lowther could not get into the bathroom, he pretended to leave the flat and when the victim opened the door he slammed it into her face.

Lowther said he did not remember his actions but blamed them on being intoxicated.

His sentence came three years since the Domestic Abuse Act introduced specific criminal offences for non-fatal strangulation and suffocation.

Rachel Williams, a survivor of domestic abuse, campaigned for the law to change and has highlighted the dangers of the violent act.

"We know that you only need the pressure of a handshake to actually kill somebody, but generally non-fatal strangulation is used to exert power and control over the victim," she said.

"I've not spoken to one victim over the last 10 years who has not been strangled."

But she said that the sentences for these crimes were too lenient.

"Sadly, we see it constantly that perpetrators of abuse are not held accountable for their actions.

"What message does that send to the victim?

"We pushed to get this as a stand-alone offence for a reason.

"It's the second most common cause of stroke in women under 40, but when you look at the medical implications from non-fatal strangulation, it's horrific.

"So if it carries up to a five-year sentence, we should be imprisoning and giving custodial sentences to those who commit this abhorrent violent act."

According to research by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, there were more than 39,000 strangulation and suffocation offences recorded in 2023-2024, compared to almost 24,000 recorded in the year before.

Where victims' gender was known, 77% were female and 23% were male.

Mrs Williams said: "I see perpetrators of abuse and the power and control they get from abusing is almost like an addiction.

"I think this is something that can't be cured overnight, either somebody wants to change or they don't.

"And this this is a lifetime sort of programme really.

"But until the court system and the judiciary really start clamping down on perpetrators of abuse, the message that will just carry on going out to them is you can do what you want in that relationship because you're not going to go to prison for it."

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