Man strangled ex while she was feeding baby

Kieron Barnard had previous convictions for domestic incidents involving another former partner

A man who strangled his estranged partner while she was feeding their baby has been jailed.

Kieron Barnard, 22, of no fixed address, also headbutted the woman shortly after she had given birth to their son, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors said he had subjected his victim to a total of eight incidents of domestic violence during a nine-month period in 2024.

Barnard pleaded guilty to three charges of controlling and coercive behaviour, strangulation and threatening to cause damage. He was jailed for three years and three months on Thursday.

The court heard that the violence had begun in March 2024 when the victim was pregnant with Barnard's child.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, told the court that on various occasions Barnard threw a plastic chair, games console and remote control at the woman, and also aimed a kick and punch to her head.

In November 2024 - a month after the woman had given birth to their son - he headbutted her nose leaving her in pain for weeks, the court was told.

Mr Howes said the abuse continued over the Christmas period after the woman moved to another area of Lincoln.

On Boxing Day, Barnard grabbed the woman around the neck and began to strangle her while she was feeding their son, the court was told.

In an impact statement read to the court, the woman described how her life flashed before her eyes.

"I was in such shock," she said.

'Concerning background'

The victim described how Barnard, who the court heard had previous convictions for domestic incidents involving another former partner, told her he would come after her if she went to the police.

"The more time I spent with him I realised this was no joke," she added.

Passing sentence, Recorder Adrian Jack told Barnard said there was a "concerning background" to the defendant's offending.

"Every relationship with a woman you have had seems to have resulted in criminal behaviour," he added.

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