LIVERPOOL MAN JAILED FOR STRANGLING EX-GIRLFRIEND AFTER ACCUSATIONS
A man who punched and strangled his ex-girlfriend after accusing her of seeing other men has been put behind bars.Matthew Blackburn, of Eremon Close in Liverpool, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court.
The 30-year-old had been convicted at a previous hearing of intentional strangulation, which took place in Rhyl.
Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, told the court Blackburn and his victim - Kylie Samantha Staley - were in a relationship together from 2016 to 2017.
There was a 'history of assault' with Blackburn being handed a five year restraining order in April 2017 for assaulting her.
After the order came to an end, in May 2022, they re-commenced communications and eventually began acting as if they were in a relationship again.
The victim's family disapproved and cut ties with her, the court heard, leaving her heavily dependent on Blackburn.
In October that year, Ms Staley decided she didn't want to continue the relationship and discussed it with the defendant, who asked her to reconsider.
On October 3, Blackburn returned to her house smelling of alcohol and accused her of seeing other men.
She felt a blow to the back of her head before the defendant put his hands on her and applied pressure.
After shouting at her, he did release her but then punched her to the head and face and threatened to set fire to the house.
The victim was left with a black eye, a lump and swelling on her forehead, and a lump on her arm.
Simon Killeen, defending, said: "We accept this is a case where only immediate custody will follow.
His instructions are that having been engaged in this relationship which had gone wrong, and he was responsible largely for that, he left the area and went to live in Liverpool.
He realised he needed to sort out his life and address the issues that have blighted his life.
He sorted out his alcohol consumption and became clean from drugs in January." Judge Rhys Rowlands handed down a sentence of 18 months and issued a five year restraining order to protect Ms Staley.
