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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Stoke-on-Trent Live & Bradley Jolly

Violent thug kicked, punched and strangled partner in series of vicious attacks

A vicious boyfriend strangled, kicked and punched his partner during three vicious attacks after he accused her of fancying another man.

Jay Goldstraw, 20, became so jealous of his lover pushed her against a wardrobe, and later got hold of her neck and hit her in a shocking fit of rage.

A court heard the bully flung his partner to the ground and kicked her in the second attack and, on the final occasion, he hit her on the head, pushed her down, kneeled on top of her and smacked her to the face.

He then strangled her with both hands with his thumbs pressed on to her throat, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.

The woman confided in a work colleague a few days after the third assault, and the abuse was reported to the police. Now Goldstraw has been jailed for 40 months and made the subject of a restraining order, which prevents him contacting his victim for 10 years.

The harrowing case was heard at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)

Sentencing the yob at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Graeme Smith said: "I am sentencing you for three assaults which took place over 14 months between November 9, 2021 and January 8, 2023.

"It had a significant impact on her. These were nasty and vicious assaults. The last one was the most serious because of the use of strangulation."

Julian Taylor, prosecuting, said Goldstraw and his partner met through Snapchat in June 2020.

He said: "They formed a relationship but there were various issues.

"On November 9, 2021 there was an argument between them over a friend. The defendant accused her of fancying him. He grabbed her and pushed her against a wardrobe.

"He told her to get in the vehicle outside. He made her get in the car. She was getting out the car and he grabbed her by the neck.

"She managed to run off down the street. He stopped the car and hit her on the back of the head. She was left with a lump to the back of her head. He hit her twice. Eventually she managed to get a taxi home. The assault involved punches on more than one occasion causing injuries to the ear and back of the head."

The relationship was on and off but resumed in December 2021. He assaulted her on November 2, 2022. Mr Taylor said: "The defendant would not let her go home. He flung her to the ground and kicked her."

On January 8 this year, the victim wanted to go home but Goldstraw would not let her. Mr Taylor said: "There was an argument about her going out with her mother on her mother's birthday. He hit her on the head, pushed her down and smacked her face, kneeling on top of her, smacking her to the face. He strangled her with both hands around her neck with his thumbs pressed on to her throat."

The victim confided in a work colleague a few days later and after seeing the bruises she took her to the Haywood Hospital in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

Goldstraw, of Werrington, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to three charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation. In a statement the victim said she sustained injuries on her legs, arm, neck and back. She added she had a panic attack and blackout during the strangulation.

Stephen Rudge, defending, said the relationship is 'well and truly over'. He said: "He knows he will be sentenced to prison today. He will spend his 21st birthday in prison. He just wishes to have a date to work towards his release.

"He is embarrassed and ashamed. He is supported by his family. He knows, by his behaviour, he has let them down. There is a degree of remorse on his part."

Mr Rudge said Goldstraw has been bullied in custody. He added: "He has behaved in a way totally alien to how he has been brought up and he realises the impact it has had on the victim, his family, the victim's family and himself."

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