MAN TO BE SENTENCED IN NEW YEAR FOR ASSAULTING WIFE IN NEWTON AYCLIFFE
A man who has admitted assaulting and strangling his wife at a time he was taking a mix of alcohol and medication, is to be sentenced in the New Year.On a previous appearance at Durham Crown Court, Neil Lambert, who was in custody at the time, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, both said to have taken place in Brockett Close, Newton Aycliffe, on May 19 this year.
But the 64-year-old defendant, now bailed to an address in Thompson Street, Darlington, denied a further charge of controlling or coercive behaviour in a relationship, said to have taken place between April 5, 2023, and May 19, 2025.
The case came back before the court on Tuesday (November 11) when prosecutor Caroline McGurk told the hearing that the victim of the offending is no longer supportive of the prosecution.
Miss McGurk said, therefore, that following “a careful review” by the Crown, it would just proceed on the two counts admitted by the defendant and “no evidence” will be offered on the controlling and coercive behaviour charge (Count One) at the sentencing hearing.
Judge Andrew Smith said he would leave it to the Probation Service and if they think it appropriate to seek the input of the mental health service, they should do so.
Addressing Lambert, the judge said: “I’m going to adjourn to allow time for the Probation Service to prepare its report before seeing what the appropriate sentence will be.
“The other offences, however, are serious, particularly intentional strangulation.
It’s unlikely to be me passing sentence but the starting point for any intentional strangulation case is always going to be a custodial sentence.
It may be the judge takes the view that the case is serious enough to merit an immediate custodial sentence.”
