Man pleaded guilty to battery of partner

A man who put his hands around his partner’s throat for a few seconds was today (Friday) given a chance to avoid jail.

Liam Crane, 19, had denied a charge of intentional strangulation but pleaded guilty to an offence of battery relating to the incident on June 14 this year.

Crane also admitted offences of criminal damage and racially aggravated harassment on the same date.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Crane and his 17-year-old partner were living with his mother at her address in Millers Rest, Whaplode, when a 999 call was made.

Jeremy Janes, prosecuting, said when police responded they found items being thrown from the property and loud banging which left the “walls literally shaking.”

Police managed to get inside and found his partner who looked like she had been crying.

Mr Janes said the teenager was initially reluctant to give an account but then revealed Crane had kicked over a TV stand and thrown around clothes.

It was also disclosed that Crane had squeezed the woman’s cheeks “quite hard,” and then put his hands around her throat, and began to squeeze.

“It wasn’t very long,” Mr Janes added. “She told him to take his hands off her throat and thankfully he did.”

Crane was arrested and made untargeted racial remarks in the presence of the police officers. 

Mr Janes said none of the officers were of an ethnic background.

Mark Knowles, defending Crane, said the victim was now pregnant with his child and had tried to visit him before it was made clear that was not possible while criminal proceedings were ongoing.

“This is a young man who has ADHD,” Mr Knowles told the court.

Passing sentence Recorder Emma Smith warned Crane he would end up going to prison if he did not change his ways.

Recorder Smith told Crane he had grabbed his girlfriend’s cheeks.

“You then grabbed hold of her neck and squeezed. This was your girlfriend,” Recorder Smith said.

“You then began smashing up the house, your mother’s house, which is again totally unacceptable.

“If that wasn’t enough when police arrived you hurled racial abuse.”

Crane, whose address was previously given as Shivean Gate, Moulton, was sentenced to an 18 month community order, and must also complete 30 rehabilitation activity days and 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Recorder Smith also fined Crane £100 for the racially aggravated harassment.

“Please don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” the Recorder told Crane.