Home   Medway   News   Article

Chatham man jailed after strangling and spitting at woman before she jumped from window into nettles

A terrified victim jumped out of a window, fearing her lover would break her neck following a brutal attack.

After her partner started to strangle her and gouged her eye, the frightened woman hid in stinging nettles until police arrived.

The woman fled the horrific attack. Picture: stock image
The woman fled the horrific attack. Picture: stock image

Bully Daniel Gaskin, of Saffron Way, Chatham, was told by a judge he posed a danger to women as he was jailed for a number of incidents, including shouting and spitting at his victim.

The 37-year-old also ripped up poems and song lyrics the woman had written and wrote vile words on the wall of her home, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Joe Weeks said the first incident took place on June 1 when the two began arguing on a bus.

"Gaskin, who was drunk, began shouting and on one occasion spat at her,” he explained. “The victim then got off the bus and walked home."

He turned up at her home calling her names and again spitting – resulting in the victim leaving her property and calling the police.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Gaskin had been strangling his victim before she fled
Maidstone Crown Court heard how Gaskin had been strangling his victim before she fled

Mr Weeks told the court that, before officers got there, Gaskin fled and then telephoned the woman, telling her he had seen the police arrive.

He continued: "Gaskin then returned and repeatedly buzzed the door until he was allowed inside. The victim said she wanted to go to bed because she wanted to visit her daughter the following day.

"He then started to strangle her saying she couldn't see her daughter. She said the strangulation lasted a lengthy period and stopping ‘shortly before I lost consciousness'," he added.

The prosecutor revealed: "He had one of his hands around her throat and put one of his fingers inside her mouth pulling down her jaw with some force.

‘He then started to strangle her saying she couldn't see her daughter...’

"She then bit his finger and he began pressing her eyeball with one of his fingers causing a scratch.

"At this point the victim broke free as Gaskin grabbed her neck and began twisting it and she later said that she was genuinely scared that he would break her neck.”

The woman made a dash to a window and screamed for help, which was heard by a neighbour.

And after calling her an idiot, he began ripping up her poems and lyrics as she climbed out of the window and landed in the nettles, still screaming for help, where she hid until Gaskin left.

While she was away Gaskin smashed her TV.

The victim said she thought her partner would break her neck. Stock image
The victim said she thought her partner would break her neck. Stock image

Alexa Le Moine, defending, said: "He understands that he has been given previous opportunities and those obviously have been wasted, and what the victim went through must have been an horrific experience.

"He expresses through me his remorse and he should not have acted in the way he did. Substance and alcohol abuse have played a part."

Gaskin admitted six charges including intentional strangulation, assault, ABH and criminal damage.

Jailing him for 32 months, Judge Oliver Saxby KC told him: "Hear this, hear this, I regard you as someone who is potentially dangerous.

“Unless you sort out your alcohol addiction, you will receive longer and longer sentences."

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More