A Corsham man who strangled his girlfriend has avoided a prison sentence.
Christopher Younger initially denied attacking the woman, aged in her 40s, but changed his pleas to guilty on 6 May and a pre-sentence report was ordered.
Having admitted offences of assault by beating and non-fatal intentional strangulation, the 47-year-old appeared at Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on 10 June.
On 25 October last year, Younger assaulted his partner by grabbing her face and throwing herself against a wall.
A week later, on 1 November, he verbally abused his partner before putting one hand around her neck and strangling her.
Younger was arrested the following day and bailed. He breached the conditions and was re-arrested on 8 November, before being charged and remanded into custody.
The defendant, of Pickwick Road, Corsham, was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years. He is also subject to a restraining order.
Younger must also complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and abstain from alcohol for three months.
Local Crime Investigator Shonna O’Harney said: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victim for her incredible bravery in coming forward to the police and providing crucial evidence which helped secure this conviction.
“Reporting domestic abuse is often a really difficult thing to do and seeing a court process through is even harder – but she has done both.
“She was subjected to Younger’s violence on more than one occasion, which was incredibly distressing and traumatic, and I hope she can now start to move forward with her life.
“I hope that this provides reassurance that Wiltshire Police take all domestic abuse reports seriously and victims will always be listened to and crimes investigated.”
