Woman feared death when carer strangled her

Alan Straughan admitted intentional strangulation, making threats to kill and assault by beating

A carer who strangled a woman he was supposed to be looking after has been jailed for two years.

Alan Straughan's victim feared she would die during the minute-long attack at her home in Houghton-le-Spring near Sunderland, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Recorder David Gordon said the attack on a vulnerable person in October was "awful" and "frightening".

Straughan, 60, of Sunrise Lane in Houghton-Le-Spring, admitted intentional strangulation, making threats to kill and assault by beating.

He had been a carer for the woman for about three years during which time he had been abusive towards her, prosecutor Kate Barnes said.

On 19 October, he erupted with anger when she asked him to get her dog from the garden, the court heard.

He pressed his hands round her neck and squeezed for up to a minute causing her to start to black out, Ms Barnes said.

Shaken and frightened

The woman was able to poke him in the eye causing him to stop, but he then poured a can of drink over hear head, the court was told.

The attack ended when the woman was able to phone her mother for help, Ms Barnes said.

In his police interview, Straughan, who had a history of violent offences, said he attacked the woman after becoming frustrated with being her carer.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she was "scared I would die" during the attack and was left feeling shaken and frightened.

Recorder Gordon said it was not a surprise the woman felt that way after the "awful" and "frightening incident".

A restraining order banning Straughan from contacting the woman, going to her address or making any reference to her on social media was also made to last for 10 years.