The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Officers have charged a man under new legislation which was introduced last month to protect victims of domestic abuse.
Benjamin Flatters, aged 31, of Dorchester Road, Spalding was charged with non-fatal strangulation following an alleged assault, reported on June 23.
Flatters appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on July 1 where he pleaded not guilty to the strangulation charge.
Flatters pleaded guilty to three other charges of criminal damage to property, threats to damage property and failure to comply with notification requirements of the sex offenders register.
He was remanded into custody and will face trial for the strangulation charge at a later date.
The charge of non-fatal strangulation comes as a result of the creation of a new offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which was introduced nationally on June 7 2022.
Crucially, the new offence carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
Victims of strangulation may be left with little or no physical marks meaning previously, a charge of actual bodily harm or common assault may have been applied, which did not reflect the serious nature of the act.
DI Richard Nethercott said: “The new legislation is potentially life changing and lifesaving. If found guilty of non-fatal strangulation, a perpetrator will face up to five years in prison.
“Along with non-fatal suffocation, it’s a form of abuse that we sadly sometimes see in a domestic setting, where a perpetrator will use it to intimidate and control their victim. It’s terrifying to endure and incredibly dangerous.
“We are committed to using our powers to tackle abuse, including non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation.
“The new legislation is an important step forwards in tackling violence against women and girls.”
