A drink-fuelled thug left his girlfriend bloodied and bruised and fearing for her life as she 'gasped' for air while he throttled her. Nathan Burgess, 26, has been locked up for the brutal attack on his partner in her own home following a boozy night out.
Burgess became 'jealous' during a row between the pair and after they returned to her house in Swinton he launched an appalling assault. He repeatedly punched the mum then began strangling her as she 'feared for her life', Manchester Crown Court heard.
"I never felt as scared in my life as when I was being strangled by Nathan," she later said, having been left with significant bruising. Burgess had been in court weeks earlier for attacking her during a separate incident.
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"She was clearly very upset and what you did to her has undoubtedly had a lasting effect on her," Judge Suzanne Goddard KC told Burgess, who had punched and kicked her in the previous incident. He appeared before magistrates but his partner did not ask for restraining order, and the relationship, which began in July last year, continued.
The judge added: "Not only did you fail to take the opportunity given by the magistrates to co-operate with the help that the probation service were going to offer you, but you committed these two very serious offences. In these circumstances you understand this court has no choice but to pass an immediate custodial sentence, and one of some length."
Prosecutors told how victim had been out with friends on July 21, and Burgess met up with her later that night before they returned to her home. Something was said which caused Burgess to become 'jealous', the court heard.
A row developed with both swearing at each other and Burgess becoming 'aggressive'. Burgess threw a glass and she tried to leave, before he grabbed her, prosecutor Betsy Hindle said.
Burgess then punched her in the face, causing her to bleed. At one stage she fell on the floor and Burgess got on top of her, punching her in the face repeatedly.
She believed Burgess hit her about seven times to her head and upper body. As she tried to get him off her, Burgess put both hands around her neck and throttled her.
She was 'gasping' for air and feared Burgess was 'going to kill her'. She was eventually able to escape and fled the house in her nightwear.
A neighbour called police and officers were attended. The court heard Burgess 'came to his senses' and began apologising to her.
During the attack the woman suffered 'significant' bruising to her arms and neck. Burgess, who the judge said was 'no stranger to the courts', was said to be 'genuinely remorseful' for his actions.
His barrister Michael Johnson said Burgess had been slashed to the face while in prison, and has co-operated with the jail authorities. He said Burgess' co-operation 'suggests some changing in his attitudes for the better'.
Burgess was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail. Before sending him down, Judge Goddard told him: "The relationship very clearly had its ups and downs on both sides. Your problem very clearly is alcohol."
Burgess, of Peatfield Avenue, Swinton, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.
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