BYKER MAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL DOMESTIC ABUSE INVOLVING STRANGULATION
Stephen Blake, a man from Byker in Newcastle, has been convicted and sentenced for domestic abuse including multiple instances of assault and strangulation against his partner.Blake had seven previous convictions, including for battery on the same victim and breach of a non-molestation order, and was on multiple suspended sentences at the time of the latest offences.
The court heard how Blake strangled his partner until she couldn't breathe during a heated argument following a text message from her daughter.
In the court's detailed account, Neil Pallister, the prosecutor, described how Blake used his hands to push her backwards, pinned her to the bed, and put his hand on her throat, beginning to choke her.
The woman reported feeling as though her windpipe was being squeezed with increasing pressure until she punched him in self-defence, causing him to release her.
Blake then hit her twice in the face, and although she tried to call the police, he cut off her call and tried to stop her from calling again.
She managed to contact the police afterward, and in her victim statement, she expressed profound emotional trauma, saying, "Never ever have I felt like this before.
This has killed me inside, I never thought I would be in a situation like this." She also revealed her regret for not listening to warnings from her family, stating, "My family warned me about him.
I should have listened to them but it's too late now." Despite her initial withdrawal of support due to her hope that Blake would change, her efforts were in vain.
Blake later assaulted her again on July 2, while on bail for the first offence, after drinking heavily at his home.
He held a broken glass and pushed her onto the bed, put his hand around her throat but without pressure, and pressed his forehead against hers, causing her to feel terrified.
The assault resulted in a minor injury—a cut to her chin.
Continuing the pattern of violence, two days later, Blake assaulted her for a third time.
During this incident, Blake became increasingly agitated after a phone call from her nephew.
He threw her onto the bed, put his hand around her throat, and threatened her, saying, "if you call the police you won't be seeing anyone and if I go to jail that will be it for you." Feeling terrified, she punched him and managed to call 999.
Blake injured himself during this confrontation, claiming the woman caused a cut to his forehead.
The victim expressed her feelings of devastation, stating, "Stephen Blake knocked my confidence out and my self-esteem is at the lowest I can remember," adding that she wants to prevent other victims from suffering similar abuse.
Blake, who has a long criminal history with 14 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to charges of intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating.
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and received an indefinite restraining order.
The court's decision underscores the seriousness of his crimes and the risks he posed to his victim.
