Kieran Walton, 35, struck his victim in the face and grabbed her by the throat – restricting her breathing for several seconds – after he arrived at her home and argued with her
A pregnant woman was strangled and bitten by her jealous ex who tried to rekindle their romance after he was released from prison.
Kieran Walton served time last year for assaulting the woman but he went to her home in a desperate bid to rekindle their relationship. But an argument erupted when he accused her of seeing other men during his stint behind bars.
After Walton taunted her, sneered at her and demeaned her, he became violent after she told him she had been recording his verbal abuse. After pushing her over a sofa, he sank his teeth into her back, leaving bite marks.
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He then struck her in the face and grabbed her by the throat, restricting her breathing. Walton has since been locked up at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard Walton, who had been in a relationship with the woman for about 18 months, went to her home on January 18 this year, reports ChronicleLive.
Prosecuting lawyer Rachel Kelly said: “He began arguing with her about not having sex with him and having relations with other men while he was in prison. She began discreetly filming him and he can be heard shouting and swearing at her.
“She disclosed that her phone was recording. He grabbed the phone and threw it. She tried to pick it up and he tried to stop her. He pushed her, causing her to fall over her sofa. He bit her on the top of her back, leaving bite marks.
“He struck her to the face before putting his hand around her throat. She described this restricted her breathing for around five seconds.” The woman, who was 16 weeks pregnant at the time, was left with cuts and bruises to her face and back and a visible bite mark.
Walton, 35, of no fixed address, has 20 previous convictions and was jailed for seven weeks last October for attacking the same woman. He admitted occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation and was jailed for 21 months.
Recorder Paul Reid told him: “It’s a fact that even momentary strangulation can instil in the victim utter terror, and rightly so, because only a very short period of strangulation can result in unconsciousness and death. This should be appreciated by those who commit that sort of appalling offence on a victim.”
Ian Hudson, defending said Walton is dealing with his mental health issues and has a good work ethic.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
