Man bit, strangled and ‘dominated’ partner before she died a few days later

Jack Shepherd, 31, had only started a relationship with the woman nine months before, moving into her Bolton home “almost immediately”.

He was said to have initially acted properly, with the woman having a history of mental health issues.

But the relationship turned in its last few weeks, when Shepherd began using cocaine and alcohol “on a regular basis”, with his behaviour “erratic at points”.

Bolton Crown Court heard on December 9 how Shepherd’s behaviour culminated on May 10 this year, when the pair had been out drinking together.

Prosecuting, Adam White said: “On the journey back to (the woman’s) home address, the defendant was being belligerent, not just to her but to others as well.

“When they got back he called her a ‘sh**house’, and would not let her go to sleep until she agreed with that assessment of her.

“She did, but that attempt to placate him was not successful.”

Shepherd, who the court heard was familiar with jiu-jitsu, pushed her head into the bed before twisting her arm behind her back.

The woman “screamed” for him to get off, before fighting back and bending his finger back in self defence.

Mr White said: “At that point, she knew she was in trouble, having hurt the defendant.”

Shepherd, of Birkdale Avenue, Atherton, then “threw her around” the bedroom “multiple times”.

Her teenage son, who was in another room, heard the commotion and tried to come to his mother’s aid, which caused the defendant to turn his attention to him.

Mr White said: “The defendant went to the rear of him and placed him in a rear chokehold – a headlock effectively – with his arm around his neck.”

The son broke free before calling the police – during which time, Shepherd’s attention returned to the woman, who he placed into a chokehold.

Mr White added: “She told police that he ‘squeezed so hard that she started to see stars’ and thought that he was killing her.”

Police arrived at the property, but the woman “lied for the defendant”, saying that they had been sparring. The son told officers “what really happened” and officers made Shepherd leave.

But he soon returned, with police being called a second time. Shepherd returned again, attacking his partner once more.

Jack Shepherd (Image: GMP)

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Mr White said: “After the second police visit, the defendant held a pillow in a menacing manner and told her he could suffocate her. He then placed her in a leg lock on the bed, utilising his jiu jitsu training, and told her he could break her leg.

“He grabbed her head and banged it against the wall twice, before she retaliated, slapping him quite forcefully to the face. He pins her down by sitting on her legs, grabs hold of her head with his hands and bites her on the cheek.

“Then he brandished a hammer in her face and tapped it on her face and her knee.”

The woman and her son got dressed and went out of the address before calling the police, who arrested Shepherd. When she and her son got back into the house, they found Shepherd had stolen his Xbox.

But the woman tragically died a few days later.

Mr White said: “On May 14, tragically (the woman) was found dead at her home address, having taken an overdose of drugs.

“Her police statement was taken on May 11, she spoke of feeling disoriented, she felt dizzy from the strangulation and felt confused.”

She added that she was “scared of him doing this to another woman or even a child”.

Shepherd had three prior convictions for five offences, including a previous domestic violence incident.

He pleaded guilty at a previous date to strangulation, actual bodily harm, criminal damage, assault by beating and theft.

Defending, Michael James said: “He has looked at himself and realised how disgusting his behaviour is.

“He has had a chance to reflect.”

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Nicholas Clarke KC, added how the defendant had made “progress in custody, away from drink and drugs”.

Sentencing Shepherd, he said: “This is a tragic case because of the aftermath. I am here to deal with you for the events of May 10, not May 14.

“You exhibited the most appalling violence with your then partner.”

Judge Clarke said how he used his strength to “dominate her, threaten her and cause her absolute terror”.

He described the act of brandishing the hammer as “like something from a horror film”.

Because Shepherd was initially warned off by the police before returning, the judge treated the strangulation and actual bodily harm offences as two separate incidents rather than one continuous incident, meaning he could impose consecutive sentences.

He added: “You are not here to be sentences for directly causing (her) death. But your violence and threats of further violence would have a profound impact on somebody already so vulnerable.”

Judge Clarke sentenced him to 50 months imprisonment, as well as imposing a restraining order on the woman’s son.

Source – INDIA TV