Man jailed after trying to strangle and suffocate woman at Hucknall address

A man who tried to strangle a woman during a domestic argument in Hucknall has been locked up.

Paul Shepherd was inside a house in the Hucknall area with the woman when he suddenly flew into a rage and attacked her.

After hitting his victim in the face with a plate, Shepherd grabbed her round the neck before forcefully covering her nose and mouth – leaving her struggling to breathe.

The woman eventually managed to break free from the 36-year-old's grasp and escape from the house, having suffered swelling and bruising to her face.

Shepherd was arrested shortly after the attack on Thursday 30 March 2023 and was later charged with intentional strangulation, intentional suffocation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Having pleaded guilty to the charges, he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing last Thursday (15 June).

Shepherd, of Howard Road, Mansfield, was jailed for three years and three months, and was also given a ten-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the woman in any way.

PC Chelsea Seals, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This must have been an incredibly scary experience for the woman, who was seemingly assaulted for no reason at all.

"Shepherd's display of violence was completely uncalled for, while his decision to try and strangle and suffocate his victim could've left her with serious injuries, had she not managed to escape.

"I am pleased that Shepherd has now been forced to own up to what he did in court and that he will now face punishment for his actions.

"Nottinghamshire Police simply will not tolerate this kind of aggressive behaviour and will always thoroughly investigate all reports we receive of violence against women.

"It is incredibly important that anyone who is going through this kind of abuse feels able to reach out to us, whether directly or through someone else, so that we can help.

"The police are here to support, so please, if you or someone else is in danger, call 999 immediately."

Dialling 55 after calling 999 takes the caller through to a silent call service, whereby call handlers will give specific directions on how to report the emergency.

Support is also available via the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline number - run by Refuge – on 0808 2000 247 and online here. 

For more information on domestic abuse, including ways to report and organisations which can help, please click here.