Pontefract man sentenced for drunkenly punching and strangling girlfriend after friend’s wedding

A sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court heard how Jack Slatter, 29, had an argument with his partner when they had gone to a wedding, before threatening to drown her.

Less than a week later, Slatter, of Conisborough Way, Pontefract, would enter the victim’s house, subjecting her to a string of abusive language.

The incidents took place only a month after he was caught drink-driving while disqualified by police officers.

The court heard Slatter had been in a relationship with the victim when the two attended the wedding of one of Slatter’s friends on August 25 this year.

At some point during the day, the victim, who did not know anyone at the ceremony, went to sit by herself near a bridge, before Slatter approached her and the two had a short argument.

Slatter then punched the victim in the face. He grabbed her by the throat and said: “treat me like that again, and I will drown you”.

On August 28, the victim returned home from a night with her friends in the pub to find Slatter there, who was verbally abusive towards her. He then ripped a baby gate from the wall.

The court also heard of a second set of offences, as Slatter was pulled over by police on July 15, eventually pleading guilty to driving over the legal limit, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and being in breach of a suspended sentence order he had previously received for dangerous driving.

Slatter was found guilty at trial of intentional strangulation, as well as assault by beating and criminal damage.

Mitigating for Slatter’s assault charges, Carl Kingsley told the court that although the strangulation charge was the most serious, most of the victim’s injuries came from the punch to the face.

He added: “In this case, the defendant was heavily intoxicated at the time.”

Sentencing, Slatter, Recorder Tony Watkin said: “You punched her in the mouth and grabbed her throat.

"Mitigating factors are limited here.”

He sentenced Slatter to 30 months in prison, as well as a restraining order for the victim.