BOLTON MAN SENTENCED UNDER NEW LAW FOR CHOKING PARTNER
A Bolton offender who physically assaulted his partner by strangling her and suffocating her with a pillow has become one of the first individuals in the country to be sentenced under a new law targeting domestic violence.The incident is part of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which now allows for a specific offence of non-fatal strangulation or suffocation, with penalties of up to five years in prison.
Prior to this law, abusers could only be charged with less severe offences such as common assault, which limited the punishment to a maximum of six months.
At Bolton Crown Court, Tyler Lowe, aged 28 of Montserrat Road, Johnson Fold, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of strangulation, suffocation, assault, and damaging his victim’s phone.
The prosecution, led by David Farley, revealed that Lowe, who has a history of violence including previous convictions for affray and criminal damage, had been on licence from prison when the offences occurred.
The court heard that Lowe had previously served time for attacking his partner, who moved away to Wigan to escape him.
Despite the conditions of his release, Lowe re-engaged with her, leading to the latest incident where neighbours called police after hearing a heated argument.
The victim, who was visibly shaken and bruised, told officers that Lowe had tried to choke her and had placed a pillow over her face two days earlier, fearing that he would kill her.
He was later arrested on July 5 after fleeing the scene.
The judge, Judge Tom Gilbart, emphasized the severity of the assault, especially since the victim was vulnerable, stating, “Holding a pillow over a victim’s face and strangling her risked the most serious consequences.” A restraining order was issued banning Lowe from contacting the victim for ten years.
The sentence reflects the new legal framework designed to better protect victims of domestic violence from such heinous acts.
