'Disgusting' Castleford ex spat in woman's face and strangled her in drug and booze haze
A man who spat in his ex’s face, hit her and strangled her has been told by a judge that his behaviour was “disgusting”.
But Dorron Crossley was given a suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court for his violent behaviour.
The 32-year-old admitted strangulation, assault, harassment and criminal damage.
He also admitted possession of Class A drugs and an offensive weapon when police pulled him over in Castleford on August 19 last year and found with small bags of cocaine on him, along with a knuckleduster.
Outlining his other offences, prosecutor Robert Galley said Crossley and his ex were in a relationship for around seven years, separating in March last year.
The woman said his worsening alcohol and drug problem led to “tirades of abuse”.
Shortly before 12noon on December 19, he came to the woman’s home and was banging on the windows, even headbutting the glass at one point.
Later in the day Crossley came to the door with a friend and let himself in without being invited, and started emptying the fridge.
The woman told him to leave, but he spat in her face and left, but returned.
He went into the kitchen and grabbed the woman trying to grab her phone from her. He then put his hand around her neck and demanded the phone before striking her with the palm of his hand.
Once again he left but returned, smashing a bottle of alcohol in the living room.
He returned one last time at around 9pm, pleading to be let in but she refused. He kicked the door and spat at the window.
He was arrested when the police arrived minutes later. He later gave a no-comment interview.
Crossley, of no fixed address, has a previous conviction for making threats against the same woman.
Mitigating, Shila Whitehead said Crossley had turned to drugs and alcohol after the death of his grandfather.
She said: “He accepts his behaviour was not great on that particular day.
“There were some mental-health issues and was using drugs and alcohol to deal with circumstances that had happened in his family’s life.”
She added that he “deeply regrets” his behaviour and accepted he needed help.
Judge Simon Phillips KC told him his behaviour was “disgusting”, but was willing to suspended his sentence.
He gave him a 24-month term, suspended for 24 months, ordered him to complete a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement, 20 rehabilitation days with probation and an accredited domestic-violence programme to deal with his issues.
He was also put on a six-month GPS tag, ordered to pay £4,000 compensation to the woman and given a lifelong restraining order to keep him away from her.