MARK HUTCHINSON – NORTH TYNESIDE

❌MARK HUTCHINSON – NORTH TYNESIDE❌

Man jailed after admitting intentional strangulation of partner

A North Tyneside man has been jailed after admitting intentionally strangling his partner during a Valentine’s Day argument.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Mark Hutchinson put both hands around his girlfriend’s neck during an argument at their home on February 14. The victim tried to call 999, but the call failed to connect, so she sent a pre-arranged safe word to her sister. Her sister later contacted Hutchinson after noticing a missed call, prompting him to look through the victim’s phone and realise she had alerted both her sister and the police.

Officers found the woman outside the property in a distressed state. The court heard she was struggling to breathe, her voice was hoarse and she was coughing and wheezing following the assault.

Hutchinson, of North Tyneside, denied strangling the woman when interviewed by police, claiming he would not have been physically strong enough to do so. He later pleaded guilty to one count of intentional strangulation and appeared for sentencing via video link from Durham Prison.

The court was told Hutchinson has three previous convictions for five offences, all involving domestic abuse. These included a battery offence in 2018, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking in 2022, and coercive and controlling behaviour together with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2023.

Defending, Nick Lane said Hutchinson accepted his behaviour had been “inexcusable”, telling the court the couple had argued and that his client had expressed remorse in a letter to the judge. The court also heard he had a restricted grip due to an injury and had experienced unresolved trauma following events in 2014.

Sentencing, Judge Sarah Mallett said the offence was so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

Hutchinson was jailed for 32 months.