NORTH SHIELDS THUG PLEADS GUILTY TO STRANGLING GIRLFRIEND
A thug strangled his girlfriend as they lay in bed together after he "broached" the idea of breaking up.Connor Smith and the victim had been out drinking and had returned to their North Shields home when an argument broke out.
Both went to bed, where Smith tried to talk about ending the relationship but it sparked another war of words, prosecutors said.
However, this time, the 34-year-old grabbed the victim around the neck and squeezed his hands, which restricted her breathing for "up to 10 seconds", a court was told.
The woman dialled 999 and police arrived at the scene but Smit had left.
He was arrested at a nearby Aldi soon later.
Smith, of Blandford Road, North Shields, but currently living in Leeds, is now facing a possible stint behind bars after he pleaded guilty to one count of intentional strangulation.
Christopher O'Brien, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said police attended an address in North Shields on October 5 last year after a 999 call from the victim reporting a domestic assault.
Mr O'Brien continued: "The victim confirmed she had been pinned down on the bed by the defendant and it led to her breathing being restricted.
"She was upset and tearful.
The officers attended a nearby Aldi and arrested the defendant.
In interview, he admitted the offence and said he'd put two hands around her neck for about 10 seconds and squeezed."
