Cirencester man admits punching and strangling woman

Adam Soanes, of Arnolds Way, Cirencester, received a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday, March 5.

Soanes swore at a woman, punched her in the head and gripped her tightly around her throat so that she almost lost consciousness on April 2 last year, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Soanes was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and must attend drug rehabilitation appointments for six months.

Soanes must also pay the woman £400 compensation plus £425 in costs and a victim surcharge.

In a victim statement the woman said she has not been able to work properly since the assault and she feels she needs to move home in order to feel safe.

"I don't want him to go to prison," she stated "but I want him to understand the gravity of what he has done with some form of rehabilitation which helps him not to repeat this behaviour." 

Prosecutor Kate Lewis referred the judge, Recorder Don Tait, to pictures of bruising the woman had suffered in the attack.

The woman was requesting a restraining order to bar Soanes from contacting her, she added.

Steve Young, defending, told the court: "This incident was out of character.  There is nothing in his past record to suggest he is a man who loses his temper easily.  But he accepts that on this occasion he did and he assaulted this lady.

"He acknowledges that she was in a vulnerable position at that time and he shows remorse.

"It is recognised that he was then and has continued to use cocaine. 
 
"If the court feels it appropriate, a drug rehabilitation order would be welcomed by him.

"This case has been a salutary lesson to him.

"He has never been in this position before and I can assure Your Honour that it has had a very significant impact upon him and he will be very relieved when the matter is over."