Darlington dad strangled partner weeks after child's birth

Luke Berry initially grabbed his partner around the throat when they argued about child care issues before continuing the attack later when the argument flared up again.

The 32-year-old was kicked out of the family home after he left his partner’s throat marked and bruised due to the force applied to her neck.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant left the woman struggling to breathe during the second attack which she described as lasting longer than the first.

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Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said: “He grabbed her by the neck and squeezed, his face was clenched with his hands tight around her throat. He released his grip and she then ran out of the room.

“The argument continued and he did it for a second time, this time for longer. She felt sick and was struggling to breathe.

“He left by the front door and she left his belongings in bags outside the property.”

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she would ‘struggle’ to trust another man after Berry strangled her on two occasions.

Luke Berry (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Berry, of Auckland Avenue, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two charges of non-fatal strangulation following the attacks on October 2 last year.

Amrit Jandoo, mitigating, said the family dynamics in the house caused friction between the couple and the long hours his client worked as a HGV driver didn’t help the situation but he accepted that was no excuse for his behaviour.

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“This was an inexplicable outburst of violence in the family home,” he said. “The defendant has lost his temper when he was challenged about the lack of support she had been receiving – that is no excuse for his behaviour.

“He has never behaved in this way before and this was a one-off incident.”

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi jailed Berry for a total of 15 months for the ‘protracted’ attack on his partner.

She said: “Not only were children present, but this behaviour was also repeated. I have seen the pictures of the injuries and it is quite rare to see bruises and marks on the victim like there were in this case.”