Lancashire man attempted to strangle aunt during gathering in Sunderland
A man attempted to strangle his aunt when their already fraught relationship cracked further during a gathering in Sunderland, a court heard.
Steven Johnson, 35, put his hands around her neck and squeezed her windpipe so tightly she momentarily struggled to breath, prosecutor Lauren Fisher said.
He was pulled from the victim by another person present at a second relative’s home in the city on Friday, May 24, 2024.
By that point Johnson, now of New Church Road, Bacup, Lancashire, had already threatened to damage her car and made a false allegation of fraud against her.
In a statement, his victim said his attack had brought back painful memories of domestic abuse inflicted by a previous partner.
Johnson denied charges of intentional strangulation and making a threat to damage or destroy property but was found guilty at trial.
Prosecutor Lauren Fisher told magistrates in South Tyneside: “This is a domestic case, where the victim is the defendant’s aunty.
“She was attending her sister’s address, where the defendant was present, and they already did not have a good relationship.
“After a short period of time, the defendant began to verbally abuse her and said that she was committing a fraud, which she said was not true.
“He then threatened to damage her car but then apologised. Out of nowhere, he grabbed her neck and pushed on the windpipe so hard that she struggled to breath.
“Another person had to use their hands to get his hands off.”
Janice Hall, defending, invited magistrates to sentence Johnson rather than send his case to be dealt with by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.
She said: “There were no visible injuries, and no injuries mentioned.
“I would invite you to conclude that this doesn’t have to go to the crown court. Mr Johnson has cooperated fully with the process.
“He has left the area and has had no contact with his family since 2024. There have been no further offences.”
Magistrates told Johnson, who has one previous conviction, the starting point of 18 months custody took the case beyond their powers, and he would be sentenced at the crown court on Monday, March 23.
They granted him bail on condition he does not contact his aunt.