A Jekyll and Hyde drunk who strangled his girlfriend, threw her Christmas tree over and ordered her to open her presents has narrowly avoided jail. Wine and whiskey fuelled Jared Dolby, 31, subjected his partner to a terrifying attack three days before Christmas last year.
The woman said she feared for her life. "I honestly believed he was going to kill me, and I would be another girl on the news killed by her boyfriend," she said.
Dolby's lawyer said he is 'kind' and 'hard working' when sober, but when drunk can display 'thinking deficits' and is capable of acting in an 'utterly unacceptable manner'. A judge said he was 'just' persuaded to avoid sending Dolby to prison.
Manchester Crown Court heard that the couple had been eating a meal on December 22. Dolby drank wine with their food, and later moved on to whiskey.
An argument broke out in which Dolby called the woman a 'liar', a 'sla*' and a 'horrible c***'. He threw her Christmas tree to the floor before storming off into the kitchen.
His girlfriend thought Dolby might be going to get a knife. She hid in the bathroom and sat against the door, to try and lock him out while calling 999.
But Dolby forced open the door with such force that she was flung across the room, prosecutor Mark Pritchard said. Dolby demanded to know who she'd called, before his attack continued.
He dragged her into the kitchen and threw her to the floor, before strangling her 'so hard' that she couldn't breathe for two or three seconds. Dolby stamped on her hand, and pinned her head to the floor using his foot as his verbal tirade continued.
Then he insisted she open her Christmas presents. She initially refused but complied out of fear.
Dolby then started crying and asked her to help him kill himself. The horrifying incident lasted for about 40 minutes. The victim suffered bruising to her arms, hand and foot.
Sentencing, Recorder Neil Usher described her ordeal as 'serious, if not terrifying violence'. "Domestic abuse like this is likely to become increasingly frequent and more serious the longer it continues," he said. "It may result in death.
"Domestic abuse can inflict lasting trauma on victims. I can well believe the lasting impact your violence has had on your ex-partner."
Defending, Laura Broome said Dolby has taken full responsibility for his actions and feels 'shame'. The relationship was the best he'd ever had and his victim was someone he 'loved very dearly'.
She said Dolby, who has five previous convictions, including for violence, suffered abuse as a child and had an 'extremely difficult' youth. He has undergone counselling, has not drank alcohol since the incident and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week, Ms Broome said.
She said Dolby is motivated to change. "I accept there is a good side to you when you are sober," Recorder Usher told the defendant.
"You have problems not just with alcohol, but it seems to me with relationships. Until you deal with these two linked problems, you will continue to present a risk to those you are in a relationship with.
"I want to pass a sentence which protects future partners from future offences like this." Dolby was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was ordered to complete the Building Better Relationships programme, 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and 150 hours of unpaid work. He will also observe an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for 120 days. A restraining order lasting three years was passed.
The judge warned Dolby that this was 'almost certainly your last chance'. "Don't let me see you again," he told him.
Dolby, of Evans Street, Salford, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and intentional strangulation.
Sign up to our courts newsletter to get the latest updates to your inbox
READ NEXT:
- Arena bomber's family 'holds significant responsibility' for his radicalisation, while Islamic State 'poster boys' encouraged him, public inquiry finds
- MI5 missed 'significant opportunity' to take action which might have prevented Manchester Arena bombing, inquiry finds
- Leaders of Didsbury Mosque attended by Arena bomber guilty of 'wilful blindness' to highly-charged debate about Libya conflict before atrocity, inquiry finds
- 'We saw staff laughing at the people they were supposed to be looking after': Inspectors' worry after shocking visit to mental health hospital
- Staff shortages cause birth centre and ward closures - how inspectors found maternity services had 'deteriorated' at one hospital
