Jail for Mansfield man who grabbed ex-partner by the throat after 'the red mist descended'

James Chandler's two-year relationship with the woman ended when he was recalled to prison in 2018 to serve the remainder of a 2012 sentence for robbery and burglary, prosecutor Lucy Jones explained on Wednesday.

A non-molestation order banning him from contacting her was imposed after his release in January last year, but he breached it a month later and a restraining order was imposed.

When Chandler threw a brick through the woman's window on May 1, breaching the court’s orders for a second time, he was jailed for a total of 36 weeks, Ms Jones explained.

After his release in September, the pair resumed their relationship, but his ‘jealous traits recurred’ and the woman ended it.

Chandler turned up at her house to collect his belongings on October 12 but argued with her on the doorstep.

He kicked the door in, causing ‘serious damage’, the court heard, and, as they pushed each other, Chandler grabbed her by the throat – leaving her with injuries.

"It's a deliberate breach aggravated by the fact an assault took place and his previous convictions in relation to the complainant," said Ms Jones.

But she said the crown accepted that ‘voluntary contact took place’ between the pair.

Chandler has 29 previous convictions and was a ‘persistent minor offender’ before going ‘big-time’ in 2012.

Matthew Smith, mitigating, said Chandler was ‘no stranger to custody’ but there had been ‘a significant change of stance from the complainant’.

His last prison sentence was ‘significantly more difficult’ because of Covid-19 and because he was unable to care for his mother, who has mobility issues.

Chandler, 30, of Langford Road, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order.

Judge Shaun Smith QC told him: "You came out of prison and said you had changed your ways. People began to accept what you said. The lady in question decided you could both give it a go. But there came a point when your old habits resurfaced and she wanted you to leave.”

He initially stayed in a taxi while his sister collected his belongings, the judge said, but Chandler lost his temper and ‘the red mist descended’.

Chandler was jailed for nine months.

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