A "DOMINEERING" boyfriend who strangled his girlfriend has been jailed.

She was the second partner Ashley Robert Yellend, 28, had assaulted, York Crown Court sitting in Leeds heard.

The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, said: “Once a man has done it once or twice, he will continue to do it unless it is tackled."

He jailed Yellend for six months.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said Yellend and the girlfriend had been out to York and Selby to celebrate her birthday.

When they returned to her Selby flat, they argued.

She went to her bedroom and he followed her, shutting the door behind them.

He punched her in the face, knocking her to the floor.

“He grabbed her round the neck, using both hands, strangling her until she could no longer breathe,” said Mr Adlington.

It was the start of violence that left the bedroom “trashed” and the Selby girlfriend shaking and crying.

The judge said: “It was sustained, it was continuous.

"When your mother turned up, you punched her (the girlfriend) again. It was emotional violence; it was worse, it was domineering and vindictive.”

Yellend, of Albion Street, Castleford, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, assault and criminal damage.

He was banned from contacting the woman in any way for five years.

Defence barrister Susannah Proctor said Yellend himself had been injured during the incident when the girlfriend had hit him in the face.

He had behaved out of character.

He had been in a “very bad mental state” at the time, suffering from depression. He had also been drinking.

The girlfriend had ended the relationship.

Anyone affected by domestic violence can contact Independent Domestic Abuse Services by ringing 0300 110 110 , emailing info@idas.org.uk or via its website www.idas.org.uk