A drunken man strangled his partner AND her dog, a court heard. Adrian Tucker became agitated and accused the complainant of cheating on him, Bristol Crown Court was told.
After threatening to kill her, he placed both his hands around her neck and started to strangle her before smashing her head against a wall and punching her on the nose. He then apologised - asking her and her daughter to kill him - before he left her Henbury home and grabbed her Jack Russell Terrier dog around the neck until it was shaking, the court heard.
Tucker, 52, of Vallis Way in Frome, pleaded guilty to strangulation and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
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The recorder Mr James Bromige handed him 14 months' prison, suspended for 24 months. He told Tucker: "You asked both your partner and daughter to kill you. It must have been a most pitiful sight. You then grabbed the dog around his neck until he was shaking."
Tucker, of previous good character, was given a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and alcohol abstinence programme. He was ordered to pay £250 court costs.
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, recounted how a heavily-intoxicated and agitated Tucker accused the complainant of cheating on him and said he would kill her. Mr Treharne said: "He lunged at her, placed both hands around her neck and started to strangle her. She said it was with force."
Tucker then pushed her back and her head smashed against a wall, the court heard. Mr Treharne said: "The defendant started arguing about a mobile. He was scared she would call the police. He didn't allow her to have her daughter's phone."
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With that Tucker's attitude changed, the court heard. After collecting a knife from the kitchen he asked both his partner and her daughter to kill him.
Having been told police had been called Tucker left the flat. As he did so he threw a vacuum cleaner down the stairs before squeezing the dog by its neck, causing it to shake.
Matthew Comer, defending, said the offence arose from alcohol misuse and his client had abstained from alcohol since. Mr Comer said: "He's never been in trouble with the police before, this was out of character.
"His personal life has been characterised by tragedy, with the unexpected deaths of family members. That had a destructive effect on his mental health, resulting in anxiety and depression."
Mr Comer told the court his client had been homeless for some five months, during which he was assaulted, but had found accommodation in Frome. Mr Comer said: "He has stopped drinking, he has shown remorse, he could work with probation, he has no previous convictions and he has now found stable accommodation. He's no risk or danger to the public."
