ALEX DURKIN

DAGENHAM MAN AVOIDS PRISON FOR ASSAULTS ON GIRLFRIEND

A man who strangled and punched his girlfriend told police he was annoyed that she asked if he was ok too often, a court heard.

Alex Durkin, 21, of Gibson Road in Dagenham, was living in Greenwich when he attacked his then-girlfriend on two occasions.

He pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, two assaults and criminal damage but walked free from Woolwich Crown Court with a suspended sentence on Tuesday, April 29.

The court heard that the first attack took place last August when he and the victim returned to her flat after they had been drinking.

When he became aggressive, the victim began filming, capturing the moment he grabbed her by the throat with both hands and strangled her.

It was unclear how long the strangling lasted but the video showed that even after 30 seconds the victim was struggling to breathe and calling for Durkin to stop.

Durkin then punched her in the face and ripped a radiator off the wall.

The second attack took place in February when Durkin became irritable as they watched TV together.

He broke the victim’s laptop in half then punched her in the eye.

When Durkin was arrested, he admitted the offences and told officers his girlfriend had annoyed him by asking him to open up and asking if he was ok too frequently.

Durkin, with no previous convictions or cautions, pleaded guilty to the charges at Bromley Magistrates’ Court three days after that attack.

The defendant's mitigation convinced the judge that he could be given a suspended sentence.

Durkin was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days.

The court emphasized that domestic violence against women is taken very seriously, but considered his remorse and remorseful attitude as grounds for a suspended sentence.