Controlling boyfriend attacked Wakefield woman with curtain pole and strangled her unconscious
A controlling boyfriend attacked his partner with a curtain pole and later put his hand over her mouth when she tried screaming for help.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Joshua Clarke was only in the relationship with the victim for a number of months, but it was described as “turbulent” and that he was abusive “from the start”.
The 22-year-old admitted offences of ABH and strangulation and appeared in court for sentencing over video link from HMP Leeds, where he had been held on remand.
Prosecutor Victoria Barker said the couple had known each other for around five years before becoming romantically involved in July last year.
But Clarke would dictate the people she could speak with and would constantly monitor her whereabouts with a phone app.
Clarke, of Pontefract Road, Featherstone, was also violent, initially starting with pushes. By August he was assaulting her “daily”, dragging her around and punching her.
He also attacked her with the curtain pole.
On August 29, she was at his home when she went into the bathroom to message her grandmother to say Clarke was being abusive again and wanted to leave.
When she left the bathroom, he began to slap her. She saw a woman walking past and tried to scream for help, but Clarke put his hand over her mouth and dragged her away from the window before throwing her onto the bed.
He put his hands around her head and began accusing her of cheating. He began hitting her again, splitting her lip and gums.
He then put his hands around her throat and squeezed until she fell unconscious.
He continued to attack her, even when she took a shower and he joined her. She later said she felt like he was trying to drown her.
She was eventually taken to hospital and was able to raise the alarm and have Clarke arrested.
During his police interview he refused to answer questions. He has one previous conviction for possession of cocaine.
Mitigating, Henry Fernandez said Clarke wants to address his underlying issues affecting his behaviour.
He said he would be more likely to re-offend if he was to remain in jail without rehabilitation work.
Mr Fernandez added: “He is anxious to move forward with his life and put this behind him.”
Judge Howard Crowson pointed to Clarke’s mental-health issues and conceded he was vulnerable in custody.
He jailed him for 21 months, suspended for two years.
He gave him 100 hours of unpaid work to complete, a 26-session accredited programme to complete, 15 rehabilitation days with probation and a 12-month GPS monitoring tag to wear.
He was also given a five-year restraining order to keep him away from the woman.