VIOLENT THUG STRANGLED PARTNER WITH HER NECKLACE IN BOLTON
2026-03-02 08:38: Alex Middleton, aged 33, attacked the woman on June 21 last year in Bolton.Middleton, who is of no fixed abode, grabbed her necklace and used it to strangle her.
He was brought before Bolton Crown Court on February 16 to be sentenced for his offending.
Prosecuting, Samuel Eskdale told the court how the defendant and the woman were in a five-week relationship last summer, with it "starting well" but then deteriorating due to "erratic behaviour and drug use" on his part.
On June 21, the woman confronted Middleton about his behaviour and drug use while they were present at a property in Bolton.
Mr Eskdale said: "She took a snap bag of what she believed to be cocaine away from the defendant." He then "charged at her", grabbing her necklace with his right hand and squeezing.
The court heard that the woman's breathing was restricted for "a number of seconds".
The necklace then snapped and the woman fell to the floor.
Middleton then "grabbed her to the right shoulder", leaving bruising.
The woman ran from the property, before the defendant chased after her to ask for the drugs, which she handed back.
The police were called to the property, where he was arrested.
In her victim personal statement, the woman said how she was "depressed for a lot of time" during and after the relationship, and that she felt she had been "preyed on" because of how vulnerable she was.
She also said that she only sleeps "two to three" hours a night and has bad dreams about Middleton.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of intentional strangulation at an earlier date.
Middleton had two previous convictions for three offences, including possession of a bladed article, affray, and criminal damage.
The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court.
--------------------------- 2026-02-19 11:43: Alex Middleton, aged 33, attacked the woman on June 21 last year in Bolton.
Middleton, who is of no fixed abode, grabbed her necklace and used it to strangle her.
He was brought before Bolton Crown Court on February 16 to be sentenced for his offending.
Prosecuting, Samuel Eskdale told the court how the defendant and the woman were in a five week relationship last summer, with it "starting well" but then deteriorating due to "erratic behaviour and drug use" on his part.
On June 21, the woman confronted Middleton about his behaviour and drug use while they were present at a property in Bolton.
Mr Eskdale said: "She took a snap bag of what she believed to be cocaine away from the defendant." He then "charged at her", grabbing her necklace with his right hand and squeezing.
The court heard that the woman's breathing was restricted for "a number of seconds".
The necklace then snapped and the woman fell to the floor.
Middleton then "grabbed her to the right shoulder", leaving bruising.
The woman ran from the property, before the defendant chased after her to ask for the drugs, which she handed back.
The police were called to the property, where he was arrested.
In her victim personal statement, the woman said how she was "depressed for a lot of time" during and after the relationship, and that she felt she had been "preyed on" because of how vulnerable she was.
She also said that she only sleeps "two to three" hours a night and has bad dreams about Middleton.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of intentional strangulation at an earlier date.
Middleton had two previous convictions for three offences, including possession of a bladed article, affray, criminal damage.
Mr Eskdale applied for a restraining order on behalf of the woman as well.
Judge Jon Close said: "If not all, he will have served almost all of what sentence I could give him under the guidelines." He also outlined his concerns about Middleton having committed the offence only three months after finishing the term of his suspended sentence for previous offending.
Judge Close gave him 15 months imprisonment, saying that there was not much hope of rehabilitation at this time.
Judge Close added: "That earlier offending, it would appear, was motivated by drug use.
It would appear that you learned very little during your suspended sentence order and your drug use continued unabated.
"At pre sentence report you minimised the gravity of what was done." Judge Close also said how Middleton blamed his drug use, despite having had the chance to address it.
He granted the restraining order, adding: "You must stay away from the complainant.
Do not contact her yourself, do not contact her through anyone else, do not email her, do not text her.
"Let me be absolutely crystal clear: stay away."
