An Amazon worker throttled his partner in bed after asking her if she loved him - before confessing his actions to police the next day. Leszek Myrkwa, from Wigan, told officers he had 'almost killed her' as he admitted what he had done.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Myrkwa felt so bad about what he had done he rang 999, and his actions would never have come to light if he hadn't. The 51-year-old had been in a long-term relationship with the woman, but when she declined to answer his question, Myrkwa strangled her.
The couple's 14-year-old son heard his mum's terrified cries as the incident unfolded at 6am on March 1, the court heard. He went into the couple’s bedroom and told Myrkwa to let her go, which he did.
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The judge, Recorder Kate Cornell, told Myrkwa in court: "You woke up and asked if she still loved you but she declined to reply. As a result you grabbed her around the neck, strangling her with your hands.
"She suffered reddening to the neck and a popped blood vessel in one eye. The next day you rang 999 about 4pm to hand yourself in and report strangling your girlfriend saying ‘I almost killed her’.
“This was the first the police knew of the matter. They spoke to her to confirm the attack had taken place but she said she did not want to provide a further statement."
A probation officer reported that it was the first time in 30 years that he had ever come across such a confession, Recorder Cornell added. Myrkwa, of Stanley Road, Wigan, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation.
His barrister, William Staunton, told the court: “He clearly felt guilty after what he had done and accepted it was a dangerous thing to have done.” Myrkwa had worked as a miner in Poland for two years from the age of 17.
He was described as '100% a grafter' and the court heard how both he and his partner have worked hard since moving to the UK in 2005. Myrkwa had been living in Warrington, close to his job, while on bail - but the court heard both he and his partner wish to live together again with their son.
Mr Staunton said that if ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community, he would be an asset to any such team. The court heard he has only one conviction, for wounding in 2013 involving a man, and the judge pointed out that there was no history of domestic violence and he is genuinely remorseful.
The court heard that the couple had been having relationship problems and Myrkwa was 'frustrated' at a 'lack of communication'. “You responded in an aggressive, violent and frightening way," said Recorder Cornell.
"It was impulsive and emotionally driven." The judge described it as 'an unusual' and 'exceptional' case and imposed an 18-month community order and ordered him to carry out 250 hours' unpaid work and 30 days' rehabilitation activities.
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