Sheffield thug tried to strangle his ex-partner in seven-hour ordeal

A Sheffield thug tried to strangle his ex-partner in a seven-hour ordeal when she asked him to leave because of his drug abuse, a court heard.
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Lee Wild denied having "taken something" when the woman returned home, on May 7, and they argued about his drug use, prosecutor Louise Reevell said.

She asked him to leave five times, before he picked her up by her neck, and then threw her to the floor and pinned her down.

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"She described seeing stars and losing her vision," Ms Reevell said. "She kicked out and tried to stop him. She thought she was going to die, but then he stopped and sat on the sofa."

Lee WildLee Wild
Lee Wild

Wild's partner rang 999 but hung up because she "felt guilty," and when the police rang back he answered and became angry.

Again, he grabbed her neck and squeezed her throat in a repetition of the earlier assault. After the police were called, he left the property, but was arrested shortly afterwards.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Wild “has always had a drug problem and she gave him money.” The ordeal last seven hours in total.

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The woman, who met Wild on Facebook and had been in a five-year relationship with him, was left with bruising, swelling and scratches.

In a statement, she said she was "in shock about what happened" and "was left in pieces," but added the incident has been "a blessing to get him away for her."

"No man is ever going to do this to me again," she concluded.

The court heard Wild has ten previous convictions.

Ian West, mitigating, said Wild accepts the prosecution's case and the probation service say he is “at low risk of serious reoffending.”

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"He has used the time on remand positively for the last four months and is described as an upstanding prisoner," he said.

Wild, 36, currently of HMP Leeds, pleaded guilty to common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, on July 29.

On Thursday, Recorder Mark McKone sentenced him to a total of 13 months. A five year restraining order was also imposed, banning him from contacting the woman.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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