REDCAR MAN GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR ASSAULT AND STRANGULATION OF PARTNER
A man from Redcar, Paul Duckworth, who is 54 years old and 6ft 7ins tall, was involved in an attack on his long-term partner after she inadvertently awakened him earlier in January.According to court reports, Duckworth got out of bed and assaulted his partner by punching her in the back and on her ear, causing her sharp pains, and then proceeded to choke her by placing his hands around her neck, which caused her to struggle for breath and cry, saying, "you promised you wouldn't do this again." During the incident, Duckworth threw a bag of perfume bottles at her, and when she expressed her distress, he responded with hatred, saying, "I hate you.
I'm glad I'm moving out." Despite the incident, the victim, who has been with Duckworth for six years and resides with him in Redcar, supported her partner at the court hearing but later withdrew her support for the prosecution before his plea.
The court learned Duckworth suffers from bipolar disorder and that his mood swings had been intensifying, with concerns his medication was not effective and needed review.
According to court statements, Duckworth had consumed a bottle of brandy that evening and claimed to have no memory of the assault, only recalling throwing objects and pushing his partner out of bed after she woke him.
Duckworth admitted to the charges of intentional strangulation and assault at an earlier hearing.
His legal representative, John Nixon, expressed that Duckworth was remorseful and ashamed, and the court was informed that an electronic tag would be inappropriate due to his Type 2 Diabetes and circulation issues.
The judge, Francis Laird, recognized the severity of his actions, noting that placing hands around someone's throat can have grave consequences, and acknowledged Duckworth's remorse by suspending his 10-month prison sentence for 18 months.
The court also ordered him to undertake 18 days of rehabilitation and 26 behavioral intervention sessions, and to pay £150 towards prosecution costs.
