Shrewsbury strangler 'tried to kill' his girlfriend
A Shrewsbury man asked police to arrest him because he had tried to kill his girlfriend, a court was told.
His victim struggled for breath during the assault and felt she was about to die, said prosecutor Miss Sara Beddows.
Samuel Westwood had strangled his girlfriend with one hand on October 5 during a row about her issuing "an ultimatum", Telford Magistrates Court was told.
After initially headbutting the woman, Westwood had pushed her back inside the house after she tried to leave, Miss Beddows said.
She said the victim had begged Westwood to let her go and that he had told her "this is what it feels like to be scared" as he went to strangle her. "She was in fear of her life. She thought she was going to die. She tried to shout but she couldn't," said Miss Beddows.
Westwood had subsequently released his grip and apologised. The victim left and called the police, the court head. The 28-year-old defendant had also called police saying "I need the police to come and see me. I tried to kill my girlfriend," said Mrs Beddows.
She added that Westwood had later told the police in interview that he had not intended to kill his girlfriend, only to make her scared.
He previously pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by beating at a hearing on October 9. Magistrates gave Westwood, of Frankwell, Shrewsbury, a 20-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered him to comply with an 18-month community order.
