Stephen Brown ‘blew up’ and strangled his girlfriend as she begged: ‘You’re going to kill me’
Stephen Brown ‘blew up’ and strangled his girlfriend as she begged: ‘You’re going to kill me’
A dad-of-three “blew up” on the eve of his mum’s funeral and strangled his girlfriend. Stephen Brown throttled his partner as she tried to clean up their child’s sick, continuing his “frightening” assault even as she begged: “You’re going to kill me.”
Police then arrived at the scene to find the victim crying and in “distress”. He too was left in tears in the dock yesterday, Wednesday February 25, as a judge “took an exceptional course” and spared him a prison sentence.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Rebecca Jackson’s mum dialled 999 on December 28 last year after receiving a phone call, in which her daughter stated Brown had “tried to strangle her”. Officers then arrived at the scene to find her crying and “clearly upset and distressed”.
Olivia Randell, prosecuting, described how Ms Jackson was initially “hesitant” in disclosing details of the incident as she “believed that the defendant required support”. However, she went on to state she was “frustrated” as Brown, of Drake Street in St Helens, “wasn’t helping with anything around house, including childcare”.
Ms Jackson also said she had needed to change their youngest child’s bedding after they had been sick, and that she had “nudged” her 34-year-old boyfriend with her foot in order to move him out of the way, as he was lying next to the mess at the time. However, he then responded by grabbing her by the neck with one hand, leaving her struggling to breathe” and shouting: “You’re going to kill me.”
Brown only released his grip when Ms Jackson began scratching at his arms. Under interview, he told detectives he was unable to recall the altercation but remembered his girlfriend saying “stop trying to f***ing choke me” and added she “wouldn’t lie about this”.
The incident was said to have come against “pressure in the family unit”, with Brown’s mum’s funeral having been scheduled to take place the following day. Rachel Oakdene, defending, told the court his client’s one-year-old child, who was present in the property at the time, did not witness the assault, while his other two daughters were out at a pantomime, adding: “Clearly, your honour, any custodial sentence would have a dreadful, devastating impact on the family unit.”
Brown, who has no previous convictions, admitted one count of intentional strangulation. He was seen wiping his eyes with a tissue before being handed a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days and £100 fine.
Sentencing, Recorder Martine Snowdon said: “This is a great shame, that you are before these courts. It is quite clear to this court the sort of person that you normally are. There were circumstances particular to your domestic and family life that were very difficult for you to manage.
“What you did that day, to use her words, was, you blew up and frightened her. You did something very dangerous. That is why you are here. You did the right thing by accepting your guilt. When I look at the overall circumstances, I am going to take what is an exceptional course.
“I think that probation can probably help you with some of the issues that you are struggling with. That will hopefully help to retain the stability in your family life so that there is no repeat of this frightening behaviour on your part.”
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