A plumber who choked his pregnant girlfriend 20 times during a violent attack has been jailed for two years.
Craig Mitchell choked Jodie McLeod – then 20 weeks pregnant with his child – over and over again as she lay helpless in the living room of a flat in Dundee after he accused her of being unfaithful.
When she began to struggle for breath he would release his grip – only to choke her again when she managed to take in air.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the attack lasted about 20 minutes before Miss McLeod managed to call for help.
When police arrived they found Mitchell asleep on a mattress on the living room floor.
He denied any knowledge of the attack when officers woke him up.
Mitchell earlier asked to be released from custody ahead of his sentencing date – standing up in court claiming he wanted to help Miss Mitchell prepare for the birth of the child.
But a sheriff remanded him in custody until his sentencing.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court he had been convicted twice before of domestic offences towards Ms McLeod – as well as a further domestic conviction relating to another ex.
Miss Robertson said: “The accused also put his hand over her mouth. He did this around 20 times over 20 minutes or so.
“She lay limp with her head to one side before managing to make her way to the bathroom where she called a friend and whispered for her to call the police.”
Mitchell, 26, of Rosemont Road, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault to injury committed on May 10 this year at Lawton Terrace, aggravated by involving the abuse of his partner.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed Mitchell for two years.
He said: “You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence.
“This is a serious matter and the only sentence appropriate is custodial.”
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