Ollerton man with history of violence strangled his girlfriend when she split with him
An Ollerton man with a history of violence against previous partners strangled his girlfriend when she split up with him and tried to blame her afterwards, a court has heard.
Luke Williams had been going out with the woman for about a month when they argued in a restaurant on November 16 last year, said Ellesse Taylor, prosecuting.
After driving him home she told him she wouldn't tolerate being shouted at and he became agitated.
When he turned to face her she believed he wanted a hug, but he lunged forward instead, grabbing her neck and pinning her chest with his forearm.
She was unable to breathe and feared for her life. She tried to calm Williams down by stroking his arm so he released his grip after 30 seconds.
She told him what she thought he wanted to hear and drove home in “a state of shock”. But after he threatened to come around the next day she called the police.
His victim could barely speak for ten days because of her injuries, kept replaying the incident over and over in her head, and stopped going out because she feels so anxious.
When he was interviewed by police Williams claimed she was jealous and claimed she grabbed him when he ended the relationship.
Nottingham Crown Court heard he has six previous convictions for 11 offences including violence, some against previous partners, and he was jailed for 27 months for coercive and controlling behaviour and battery in 2022.
Amelia Trem, mitigating, conceded there had been an “element of escalation to his offending” but he has had no probation involvement.
She said a pre-sentence report “did not paint him in the best light,” but she highlighted his career as a roofer and his supportive family connections.
“He realises if he continues behaving in this way he will be liable to longer sentences,” Ms Trem added.
Williams, 36, of Griffin Road, Ollerton, was convicted of intentional strangulation after a trial on January 9.
On Friday, Judge Mark Watson told him his victim had “plainly got the measure of who he was” and said he is “incapable of recognising the danger he poses to partners.”
He sentenced Williams to 30 months in prison and imposed a ten-year restraining order.