Spitting Leeds thug strangled partner after bank-holiday benefits battle

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A drug-addled thug spat at his partner and attacked her after forgetting he had spent his benefit money on ketamine.

Lee Colbeck refused to let the woman leave the Beeston property until she gave him his money, putting both hands around her neck in a rage.

The 46-year-old, who has a huge criminal record, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court.

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The court heard that in May of last year, he received his benefits early due to the bank holiday, but then spent it on a large quantity of mind-altering ketamine.

Colbeck (pictured) spat and strangled his partner during an argument over benefits. (pics by WYP)Colbeck (pictured) spat and strangled his partner during an argument over benefits. (pics by WYP)
Colbeck (pictured) spat and strangled his partner during an argument over benefits. (pics by WYP) | WYP

His “on/off” partner of 10 years suspected he had consumed all of the drugs because he later asked her for more money and became aggressive, prosecutor Jemima Stephenson told the court.

He asked her where his benefits cash was and began throwing objects around. She tried to leave but he blocked her path.

He spat at her repeatedly then pushed her. He then strangled her with both hands.

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Colbeck, of Temple View Terrace, East End Park, was arrested but gave no comments during his interview.

The woman later said she had “put up with years of abuse and control” and he had even poured a bottle of urine over her. They had both been drug users but she had got clean while Colbeck continued

He admitted intentional strangulation. He has 62 previous convictions for 132 offences.

Mitigating, Daniel Ingham said the couple had both had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.

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He said: “It’s been the root of all of his problems for a long period of time. Until he deals with his substance misuse, it’s likely he will reoffend.”

He said that Colbeck was addressing his drug use and is now clean.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar jailed him for 18 months and told him: “I have no faith that was to place you on some sort of order.”

He was also given an indefinite-length restraining order.

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