A WOMAN thought she was in a relationship with a loving man who ‘treated her like a princess’ – before he strangled her and punched her in the face.

John Houghton also damaged her possessions during an alcohol-fuelled attack which left the woman fearing for her life.

The 49-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced, having admitted charges of intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

The complainant had been in a relationship with the defendant for around three-and-a-half years, explained Shannon Stewart, prosecuting.

She said that the relationship ‘started off incredible’, but Houghton, who has an addiction to both drugs and alcohol, relapsed and started drinking again around the time of the incident.

The pair were in the living room of her home address in the Old Hall area on May 26 this year when an argument broke out.

Houghton, who had consumed around one-and-a-half litres of vodka mixed with his prescribed medication, punched her to the face and tried to take her mobile phone from her.

She tried to leave the room, but he threw her into the hallway, shouting at her before strangling her with both hands around her neck.

The court heard that the victim was fearful that she might die during the terrifying incident, commenting that she felt powerless and unable to scream.

As she began to cry, the defendant continued to punch her to the face while she was begging him to stop attacking her.

It was said that the next thing she remembered was police officers arriving, having been called by a neighbour who heard the altercation occurring, and arresting Houghton.

A lamp and a chair were also damaged by the defendant during the incident.

The victim was taken to hospital and received treatment for a cut above her eye, which needed stitches and to be glued, as well as ‘several wounds’ on her forehead and bruising to her neck and wrist.

John Houghton was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court

John Houghton was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court

It was said that during his police interview, Houghton was shocked when he saw the injuries he had caused and was remorseful, even though he could not remember the incident.

Ms Stewart revealed that the defendant has seven previous convictions for 14 offences, including for battery and inflicting grievous bodily harm – both against former girlfriends.

His most recent conviction was in July 2017 for attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, for which he was jailed for 30 months.

Mitigating on behalf of her client, Carmel Wilde said that the complainant said that Houghton initially ‘treated her like a princess’.

“The best mitigation is the defendant’s guilty pleas entered in the lower court, for which he should be afforded maximum credit,” she said.

“He is described as feeling disgusted in himself, which he jolly well should do. He should not have treated someone close to him in that disgraceful manner.”

It was said that Houghton believes the victim is ‘better off without him’, and that he knows he needs rehabilitation.

Ms Wilde asked for the inevitable prison sentence to be kept as short as possible.

Before sentencing, recorder David Knifton said: “These offences reflect an established pattern of domestic abuse on your behalf, and you pose a high risk of future domestic violence.

“I have no hesitation in concluding that these offences can only be met with a term of immediate custody.”

Houghton, of Brick Street near the town centre, was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

He was also told he must abide by a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim or entering a named Warrington street.