Drunken Wallsend husband strangled wife in bed after being locked out of house
Scott Pringle, 37, was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting intentional strangulation
by David Huntley · ChronicleLiveA drunken husband strangled his wife as she lay in bed after she locked him out of the house.
Scott Pringle had been on a night out with friends and was "heavily intoxicated" after drinking booze and taking cocaine when he returned home. But the 37-year-old began "screaming" and banging on the door after realising he'd been locked out.
When Pringle was finally let inside, he "lunged" at his then-wife and wrapped his hands around her throat. The victim was unable to breathe before she managed to push him off.
Pringle, of Wallsend, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for intentional strangulation. He had pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that Pringle had been on a night out on February 25 this year and was expected to be out late. His then-wife had sent him a message asking him to sleep on the sofa so he didn't disturb her on his return and locked the front door.
Judge Carolyn Scott, said: "You arrived home and [were] banging on the door screaming to be let in. You were highly intoxicated. You followed [the victim] into the bedroom and lunged onto the bed with her and placed both hands around her neck. She was unable to breathe."
The court was told Pringle began shouting abuse and making threats as the woman struggled. Judge Scott continued: "She pushed you off before running out of the house and calling the police."
Two children were in the house at the time of the attack, the court heard. Pringle had also been in full-time employment but was recently sacked after the offence came to light in our previous Chronicle Live article.
Vic Laffey, defending, said Pringle had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and does not "recall an awful lot" about the attack. He said: "He is not prepared to dispute what his ex-wife says about the incident. If she says that's what happened, that's what must have happened.
"He is ashamed and embarrassed about what happened. He was a man of good character and demonstrates appropriate remorse. He currently lives with his father in Wallsend and will start looking for work straight away."
Judge Scott handed Pringle a 13-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered him to complete 15 rehabilitation days, a relationships programme, and 120 hours unpaid work.
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