An army veteran grabbed his terrified partner by the neck and strangled her as she tried to call the police for help in a booze-fuelled attack.
McCauley Saville, who had an "unhealthy relationship with alcohol", then continued to punch and slap the woman in her flat above a pub. Appearing at Hull Crown Court, the 22-year-old admitted strangulation of his girlfriend and assaulting her, causing actual bodily harm.
He also admitted other offences of assaulting her and causing criminal damage, Hull Live reports. Prosecutor Cathy Kioko-Gilligan said that the couple had been together since November 2021 and, at the time, Saville was living between the homes of his girlfriend and his father.
On February 16, the woman left her flat - which was located above a pub in the Hessle Road area of Hull - and found Saville drinking with friends. At 12.30am on February 17, the pair went outside the pub to have a cigarette, at which point Saville grabbed her by the back of the neck and threw her to the ground.
"Eventually, they returned inside," said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. "She decided to return to her flat and was followed by the defendant, who apologised."
The victim went into her bedroom and called the police, however while she was on the phone Saville took hold of her and used his right hand to strangle her. She couldn't remember whether or not she lost consciousness, but suffered a neck injury as a result of the attack.
Saville then punched or slapped her in the face, causing her lip to bleed, and continued shouting at her. "The defendant left the bedroom, leaving the complainant crying," said Miss Kioko-Gilligan.
The defendant then caused damage to a door frame, lamp shade, drinking glass and the walls by kicking them and throwing items around the living room. He was later found by police in a back room at the pub where he was arrested and taken to Clough Road police station.
Saville said that he could not remember strangling or striking his victim but admitted that there had been a struggle and that he must have caused the injuries.
He also had convictions for four previous offences, including being drunk and disorderly, resisting arrest and public disorder.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Saville had joined the Army aged 18 and served for three years. During this time, he joined in with the "drinking culture" that "led him to drink more than he should". He was discharged from the army four days before attacking his girlfriend.
"He was devastated that it did not work out," said Miss Scott. "He was trying to resolve his drinking issues, but obviously things have gone awry.
"This behaviour for him is out of character. He has no previous convictions for violence at all. He is disgusted with himself and is remorseful."
Saville had been in custody for about a month after breaching his bail. "That's given him a big shock," said Miss Scott. "He realises that he is wasting his time by putting himself in prison.
"He realises that prison is not the sort of place where he wants to spend his time. The month that he has spent in custody is the best thing that could have happened to him. It has given him such a fright."
Saville was handed a 14-month suspended prison sentence, 20 days' rehabilitation, six months' alcohol treatment and a Building Better Relationships programme. Judge Kate Rayfield said that Saville subjected the woman to a series of assaults that were frightening and serious enough for the woman to think that she might have lost consciousness, but also included the use of violence that caused injuries.
The woman was in her own home where she was entitled to feel safe and secure but Saville breached that trust. Strangulation was the "most horrific" form of assault because the victim did not know in those seconds what would happen to them, said Judge Rayfield.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
