1 day Ago By [email protected] (Mark Naylor)
A terrified woman was left a shell of her former self after she suffered the "horror" of being strangled by her drunken and bad-tempered boyfriend. Jealous and aggressive bully Ian Philpott became enraged after seeing the woman talking to two men in a pub and believing that they were "sniffing around" her like dogs. The "devastating" toll of the attack on her had been "immeasurable", Hull Crown Court heard.
Philpott, 56, of Woodlands Grove, Skirlaugh, admitted offences of intentional strangulation between August 1 and 31, 2023 and two of assault, one during August of that year and the other on December 8, 2023. Samantha Laws, prosecuting, said that Philpott and the woman had, at the time, been in a relationship since 2018 but she had noticed a difference in him since 2021 and, whenever he had been drinking heavily, he started an argument with her. He became aggressive, including shoving her, pinning her to the floor and kicking her out of bed.
"He threw her clothes on the street on numerous occasions when he was drinking," said Miss Laws. "Arguments were started by the defendant and incidents occurred." On one occasion, they had been to the pub and returned home.
He told her: "I saw you talking to two men. They were sniffing around you like dogs." Philpott followed her and shoved her forwards, causing her to fall forwards.
He grabbed her from behind, squeezed her neck and pinned her to the floor, using both hands around her neck and squeezing so hard that it restricted her breathing. He got off her and told her: "Get the f*** out." The woman was able to leave and she sought refuge at a neighbour's house.
In August 2023, Philpott came back from the pub in a bad mood and went to bed. The woman followed him. "He was immediately abusive," said Miss Laws.
He later kicked her out of bed and pinned her to a wall. He slapped her and she tried to get out of the bedroom. He grabbed her by the neck and pinned her to the floor.
She suffered a bruised eye as a result of being strangled. The next morning, he apologised and told her to ring in sick to work, which she did. On December 8, 2023, the woman returned home to find Philpott very drunk.
"She asked him what was wrong," said Miss Laws. He told her: "You don't need to know. You are a thick c***.
" Philpott followed her to the living room and grabbed her by her throat and pinned her back into the sofa. "He poured beer over her head," said Miss Laws. "She was struggling to breathe as his grip was quite hard around her neck.
He then put his other hand around her throat. She managed to get away and stumbled onto the floor." The woman later said that she suffered severe anxiety after the strangulation incident and, within weeks, she lost a significant amount of weight.
"This incident has left me a shell of my former self," she said. "I am fearful of encountering Ian. Simple tasks have become insurmountable.
The emotional toll is immeasurable. I relive the horror of the incident. The impact of this incident has been devastating.
" Graham O'Sullivan, mitigating, said that alcohol played a part in the incidents. Philpott acknowledged the impact of his behaviour on the woman and he had shown remorse and felt shame about his behaviour. He had absolutely no wish to see her again.
"The relationship is at an end," said Mr O'Sullivan. "He hasn't initiated any contact. He has no relevant convictions.
He is not a man with a concerning record. These offences are somewhat out of character." There were references from two previous partners.
He had two adult children. In 2017, he received a commendation from the police for helping someone who was wanting to take their own life. "We are all a mixture of good and bad things," said Mr O'Sullivan.
"The good has been demonstrated in his willingness to address the bad." Philpott was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence, 250 hours' unpaid work, six months' alcohol treatment and 25 days' rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation and he was given a three-year restraining order.
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