WELDER FROM BULWELL RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STRANGULATION
An earlier version of this story said the offence happened at the victim's address in Arnold.In fact, the offence happened at the defendant's address in Bulwell.
We are happy to amend our article and clarify this matter.
A Nottingham welder strangled his former partner during an argument over money while their two young children were at the house.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how Kieran Bennett also threw a beer can at the mother of his son and daughter and punched her during the episode at his address.
At the time, the 30-year-old of Bulwell was the subject of a restraining order against the woman handed to him earlier this year for harassing her.
But having spent almost a month of prison remand for the first time in his life, the defendant now has 18 months to stay out of trouble or risk being sent back behind bars.
Handing him a 10-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, Recorder Mark Ainsworth said: “You must understand that when the courts make a restraining order to prevent contact the court expects that to be taken seriously and be complied with.
On this occasion there was an argument about money and you threw a beer can which hit her and as she went to leave you punched her in the face and she ended up with a cut to her face as a result.
Then, most seriously, you put your hands around her neck and strangled her.” Laura Pitman, prosecuting, said the defendant and complainant had been in a relationship and have two children together but they split around 2020.
She said in March of this year he was fined after admitting a course of harassment against the victim and was also made the subject of a restraining order.
The prosecutor said that in June of this year the pair then saw each other so he could see his son and daughter for Father’s Day.
Miss Pitman said following that, and while they and the children were at his Bulwell address, they began to argue over money.
She said: “She decided to leave and he grabbed her and pushed her onto the sofa.
She was crying for him to get off her but he placed his hands around her neck and began to strangle her.
“It lasted a few seconds, no more, and she was able to push him off and get hold of her mobile phone, informing him she was going to call the police and that is what she did.” Bennett, of Cinderhill Road, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and breaching a restraining order.
Kevin Waddingham, mitigating, said his client is “a man with a strong work ethic” who earns £42,000 per year working for a sheet metal firm “five minutes walk from his home” in a job which is being held open for him by his employer.
He said: “There was contact which was necessary because of the children they share and the arrangement for that created tension and difficulties.
The children were at his property and the complainant turned up without prior arrangement.
“The defendant then went to work.
He’s an engineer/welder by trade.
It was a very hot day, he came home and there was an argument where, for a very brief period, he lost control and the assault happened in the way described.”
