A man is facing jail after he grabbed a woman by the throat and dragged her around by her hair in a city centre hotel room.
Daniel Batey and the victim had met on a night out in Newcastle and had gone back to her hotel room for drinks. A court heard that, while some consensual kissing and sexual activity took place, the 26-year-old suddenly turned violent by grabbing the woman by the throat with force.
Prosecutors said that the terrified female couldn't breath and ran into the corridor in just he bra and skirt as soon as she managed to slip Batey's grip. However, the drunk thug followed her and tried to drag her back into the room by her hair, magistrates heard.
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Fortunately, a hotel worker intervened after watching part of the incident on CCTV and asked Batey to leave but he responded by throwing a punch, which missed. He did eventually exit the hotel and waited outside while police arrived.
Now, Batey, of East Pilton Farm Crossway, in Edinburgh, is facing a possible jail term after he pleaded guilty to one count each of intentional strangulation, common assault and assault by beating. Magistrates in Newcastle deemed that their powers to finalise the case were insufficient and committed Batey to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence.
Prosecutor, Rob Lawson, said Batey and the victim met on a night out in Newcastle city centre on December 28 last year and went back to her hotel room, where some consensual sexual activity took place. Mr Lawson continued: "She tried to end the night. The defendant then grabbed her by the throat with force.
"She felt she was unable to breathe due to that force. She managed to flee into the corridor wearing just her bra and skirt. He followed and tried to drag and carry her back to the room, including trying to drag her by her hair back to the room."
The court heard that a member of staff intervened and tried to get Batey to leave, however, rather than exit, he swung the punch. The police were then called and Batey was arrested.
In a statement, the victim said: "This incident caused me to fear for my own life. I genuinely believed he could have killed me by the way he grabbed my throat and I struggled to breathe. I'm extremely shaken up by this and I'm worried how it will affect me moving forward."
The court heard that Batey, who has no past convictions, was an intelligent man and a university graduate who was currently working as an engineer on a university scheme. He claimed things had become "heated" in the hotel room, which led to him putting his hands around the victim's neck.
Judith Curry, defending, told magistrates: "Yes, he followed her out the room. He had things in the room that he wanted to get out of the room so he could leave. He accepts he was in drink at the time. If they hadn't been drinking, this would not have occurred."
Batey was released on unconditional bail to next appear before Newcastle Crown Court for sentence on June 7.
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