MAN FACES LONG JAIL SENTENCE AFTER STRANGLING GIRLFRIEND WITH CORD
A man named Aaron Medcraft is facing a substantial period of custody after being found guilty by a Warwick Crown Court jury of serious domestic violence related to an incident where he wrapped a cord around his girlfriend's neck and strangled her three times so forcefully that she lost consciousness on each occasion.Medcraft, aged 21 and from Rugby, with no fixed address, had denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, claiming the injuries were self-inflicted.
However, the jury convicted him after more than five hours of deliberation.
The court heard that Medcraft had also pleaded guilty to assaulting his on-off partner and damaging a bathroom door at her mother's home.
The judge, Andrew Lockhart QC, adjourned the case to prepare a report on Medcraft's case and remanded him in custody, warning him that a substantial custodial sentence was inevitable.
Prosecutor Justin Jarmola explained that the victim had been trying to end her relationship with Medcraft and prevent her children, who had been taken into care, from seeing him, but she kept in contact with him secretly via a mobile phone.
The incident took place at her mother's home in Steele Street, Rugby, where Medcraft used 'extensive violence,' including breaking open a bathroom door and wrapping a cord from his clothing around her neck to strangle her three times, causing her to lose consciousness each time.
Although she did not sustain major injuries, the prosecutor emphasized Medcraft's intention to cause serious harm.
After the assaults, Medcraft chased her outside and continued to attack her by hitting and kicking her in the street.
Police arrested him at the scene, finding a length of cord in his rucksack that had been used during the incident.
Medcraft denied attacking her and claimed the marks on her neck were self-inflicted.
The court also noted that Medcraft had prior convictions for 20 offenses, including multiple assaults.
The judge highlighted that the starting point for a grievous bodily harm conviction could be 12 years in prison, indicating the gravity of such an offense.
