Attacker walked into ex's home and strangled her

Martin Miller was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court

A former soldier who walked uninvited into his ex-girlfriend's home and strangled her has been given a suspended sentence.

Martin Miller, 34, had previously assaulted the woman and repeatedly threatened to kill her, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The victim said she believed she was going to die in the attack and lived in fear of what he would do.

Miller, from Longbenton, North Tyneside, was jailed for two years, suspended for two years, after admitting offences including intentional strangulation.

The couple's short relationship ended in November after Miller, of West Farm Avenue, smashed her phone, threw a wine glass at her causing a cut to her hand and chucked her belongings out of a window, prosecutor Joe Hedworth said.

Several days later, Miller pinned the victim against a wall by her throat and said "I'm going to kill you" when she went round to collect her possessions, the court heard.

'In fear for life'

Miller, whose previous convictions included battery and assault, was arrested and released on bail on condition not to contact the woman, Mr Hedworth said.

On 9 January, the woman was in bed when Miller walked into her home with another man and strangled her several times to the point where she could not breathe, the prosecutor said.

He again shouted he would kill her and said he was going to get a knife to stab her to death with, the court heard, before leaving when the woman managed to hide in her bedroom.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had been "left in fear of [her] life" and she "genuinely believed" he would kill her.

She said she had told multiple lies to friends and family to "justify black eyes and injuries" during the couple's relationship, and was scared to be at home because she "knows what he is capable of".

The woman said she used to be described as the "life of the party" but no longer liked going out and socialising.

'High risk'

In mitigation, Shaun Routledge said Miller had developed a "problem" with alcohol and cocaine as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by his time in the Army, in particular during a period in which five comrades were killed in combat and some 30 others had to undergo amputations.

"We can only imagine how it affects those people who we send to fight on our behalf," Mr Routledge said, adding Miller was sacked from the military for using cocaine, which he did "because of some of the operational duties he undertook".

Miller had been in prison since the incident in January and had been using his time inside to better himself and help others, the court heard.

Judge Carolyn Scott said Miller had been assessed as posing a "high risk of serious harm" to others but the Probation Service could provide an "onerous package" to "rehabilitate" him.

As part of that he must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and complete 150 hours' unpaid work.

A restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for 10 years was also made.