MAN JAILED FOR INTENTIONAL STRANGULATION AND ASSAULT
A 26-year-old man has received a prison sentence of three years and four months after being convicted of deliberate strangulation and assault.George Leighton, who does not have a fixed address, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 19 September.
The woman involved began a romantic relationship with Leighton in January 2024.
However, after about eight months, their relationship started to deteriorate, leading Leighton to resort to violence.
On 14 September 2024, the victim and Leighton were returning home from Sunbury when Leighton took offense at her refusal to drop him off at a friend's house.
In response, he grabbed her by the throat with both hands.
Although she managed to free herself, Leighton assaulted her again, applying enough force to hinder her breathing for several seconds.
He then struck her in the face, causing swelling.
A few weeks later, on 10 October, Leighton attacked her once more at their residence.
He approached her in the bedroom, grabbed her throat, and pushed her against the bed’s headboard, leaving her confused and unable to breathe.
The victim sustained a bruise around her neck, which worsened after Leighton also grabbed her shoulder and upper arm.
He further struck her on the side of her face.
The third assault occurred five days later, while they were in a vehicle.
Leighton asked if he could use her car to earn some money, but she refused.
He became angry, threatening to end their relationship if she did not agree.
In his fury, Leighton grabbed her head and, during the attack, struck it against the side of the car, causing her to lose consciousness.
When she regained awareness, Leighton was still hitting her head against the door.
He showed no remorse laughing at her, accusing her of pretending to be unconscious, and forcing her head into his lap.
Shortly after, Leighton collided with another vehicle, resulting in a cut to her upper lip and the loss of some of her hair.
On 18 October, Leighton took the victim’s phone and threw it out of a car window, then exited to stomp on it.
Two days later, while she was with a friend, Leighton appeared at the address.
Footage from a doorbell camera shows him shouting for her to open the door.
As he left, he smashed the driver’s side window of her car.
Leighton was detained on 21 October and charged with several offences.
During his interview, he refused to comment on his conduct, only laughing at footage of himself and causing damage to property.
He admitted to two charges of criminal damage.
After a trial at Chichester Crown Court, he was convicted of two counts of deliberate strangulation and three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Natalie Ridley, from the Domestic Abuse Team, commented: "First, I would like to commend the survivor for showing the strength to come forward and report the awful violence she was subjected to.
Without her courage and trust in Surrey Police, Leighton would not have faced justice.
"As a Force, we take every report of domestic abuse and violence seriously and will do everything we can to support survivors.
I would urge anyone who may be impacted by domestic abuse to come forward.
"You will be supported and heard from the outset."
