'He strangled the life out of me' Thug jailed for attack on girlfriend | Preston Crown Court

James Cavin was jailed for 22 months for assaulting his girlfriend in what the court heard had been a “toxic” relationship. And as he was led from the dock he turned to Recorder Fiona Clancy and said: “Thank you Miss.”

The judge heard Cavin, who has links with the Rossendale Valley but now lives in Skelmersdale, had pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and also attempted strangulation.

His arrest followed a row with his partner in which he kicked her in the body and punched her to the face, causing her to fall to the ground. Later the same day he returned for another argument in which he put both his hands around her neck and, according to the woman “strangled the life out of her”. (continues)

The 33-year-old was said in court to have eight previous offences involving violence, one of which was committed against a former partner and resulted in her suffering a broken jaw and him being jailed for 32 months. In another he assaulted his own mother at home in Edenfield near Rawtenstall, breaking her nose.

The latest offences were committed in July last year at his girlfriend’s house. During a row which spilled over into the street outside he was seen by a neighbour to kick the woman in the body and then hit her in the face. She had taken refuge at a neighbour’s house and Cavin had left the scene.

But the dispute continued later that day when he returned and this time tried to throttle her. She suffered an injury to her left eye and bruising to her arms.

Defence barrister Alaric Walmsley said her client acknowledged how serious the offences were. He was remorseful and wanted to stop the cycle of offending he had found himself in. He argued there was a realistic chance of rehabilitation and asked the judge to give him a suspended sentence.

Recorder Clancy told Cavin, of Alderley, Skelmersdale, that his “toxic” relationship with the woman had come to an end on July 15 during a heated argument.

“You assaulted her by kicking her to the body, striking her to the face and causing an injury to her left eye.” She had suffered facial cuts and bruising and the attack caused her to fall to the ground “with blood running down her face”. (continues)

Later that day he had returned and this time had placed both hands around her neck and tried to strangle her. The woman declined to make a personal victim statement to be read in court. She said the attack was domestic violence and those type of assaults were taken very seriously by the court.

He had been on licence for domestic violence at the time of this latest offence. He had demonstrated “a clear pattern of offending against (your) partners and used violence in relationships”.

“You are a high risk of harm to the complainant, but when mixed with alcohol (you are) a very high risk of harm to the public.”

She sentenced him to 22 months for strangulation and four months concurrent for assault.