A MAN has avoided jail after pouring alcohol over his girlfriend’s face while she slept and then strangling her, a court has heard.

Daniel Hibbit, of Bath Road, Slough was found guilty in his absence at Reading Magistrates Court in January this year of one count of intentional strangulation and assault by beating – both occurring on August 6, 2022.

The 40-year-old previously pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage – namely a glass panel in a balcony window – belonging to the victim.

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He was sentenced on Friday (June 9) at Reading Crown Court to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Opening the case, barrister Shaan Sethi said Hibbit had been in a relationship with the victim for two years before the incident took place.

He said: “The complainant woke up at 2am to the defendant pouring alcohol over her face. He then squeezed her neck.

“He picked her up by her neck and strangled her again. She tried to reach the door but he lifted her up by her neck and strangled her and pushed her into the hallway where she fell on her back.”

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the woman, who we have decided not to name, said: “I’m not sure where to start with what Daniel did to me.

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“I used to be confident but Daniel drained that confidence out of me and left me a shell of my former self.

“I would have to walk on eggshells around him, it was suffocating. He’s not the person I thought he was.

“Daniel told me if I ended the relationship, he would destroy me. He left me scared in my own home and now I jump at the smallest noises all the time.”

The court heard that the victim blames herself for the incident as she ‘let him into the home’ which now reminds her of being ‘violently thrown around’.

Mr Sethi said her statement made for ‘dim reading’.

The court heard that Hibbit has no previous convictions except for a caution for battery in 2007.

Sentencing Hibbit, Judge Nicholas Wattam said: “I do think this is a serious offence of this type. There appears to be some element of bullying.”

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He was also ordered to wear a monitoring tag for 12 months, complete 40 rehabilitation days and pay £420 in court costs plus an £80 fine.

Hibbit was also made subject to a three-year restraining order not to contact the victim.