THUG REPEATEDLY STRANGLED PREGNANT PARTNER WHO 'GAVE UP HER LIFE FOR HIM'
Warning: This article contains upsetting content.Craig Kyle, aged 36 and known to be a violent alcoholic, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Northampton Crown Court on March 26 after pleading guilty to a single charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.
The assaults occurred between May 18 and May 20 last year while Kyle was on bail for previous charges of assault against his partner.
The court was informed that Kyle and his partner, both recovering alcoholics who met during treatment, had been in a relationship since March 2020.
Almost immediately after moving into their home, Kyle assaulted her.
In her victim statement, she described her alarming transformation, saying she no longer recognised him and referred to him as a monster.
She expressed that his verbal and physical abuse had frightened her and left her unsure how far he would go.
She also conveyed her heartbreak and feelings of betrayal after giving up her life in Devon to be with him.
Now feeling isolated and uncertain about her future, she revealed her increased anxiety and previous experiences with domestic abuse.
Judge Adrienne Lucking highlighted the distress of her 999 calls, emphasising her terror and trembling voice as she begged for help, fearing further assault.
The woman, who was 18 weeks pregnant at the time, described the abuse as psychotic episodes.
The judge noted the series of assaults from March and April 2020, which included strangulation and assault against walls, though Kyle was released on bail before they resumed cohabitation.
During the incident starting on May 18, Kyle's alcohol consumption escalated, and he became increasingly erratic.
Prosecutor Andrew Howarth recounted how Kyle pushed her, throttled her by pressing his thumb into her windpipe, and held her in a chokehold, causing her difficulty breathing.
That evening, Kyle was playing loud music, slamming doors, and attacking her after she failed to heed his commands.
The following day, Kyle continued his aggressive behaviour, returning to buy more alcohol and becoming even more confrontational after drinking a mixture of beer and spirits.
He damaged household items and assaulted his partner again, including grabbing her by the ankles and forcing her head to hit the floor.
He was also involved in continued violence, pulling her by the throat, smashing her head against the wall, and spitting at her.
On the morning of May 20, attempts by the victim to contact police were thwarted when Kyle tore her phone and caused damage to it in an effort to prevent her from calling for help.
He then pushed her into a cupboard, causing her head to hit it, before police arrived at 7:15 am to find Kyle had fled.
At the hospital, she was found to have extensive bruising across her face, jaw, neck, and other parts, along with severe skull bruising.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Jonathan Woodcock described Kyle as a caring and supportive man who had recently achieved 10 months of sobriety and was committed to helping others through counselling training.
Kyle, who also received a restraining order via Northampton Magistrates Court, was set to serve half of his sentence in custody and the rest in the community, factoring in the 16 weeks he had already spent in detention since his June 2020 hearing.
