A WOMAN "thought she was going to die" when she was strangled and punched by her partner.

A year later, soldier Lewis James Phillips, based at Mooltan Barracks in Tidworth, has been ordered to pay more than £700 for the assault.

Heard by Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Monday, February 28, Phillips caused bruising to the victim's jawline, arms and neck, when he turned up at her home drunk in the middle of the night.

In the lead up to the assault, which took place on February 13, 2021, Phillips and his then girlfriend, Holly Bird, had been on a break.

The court heard that a separation was agreed as the partner had "become insecure about herself" and Phillips "had an element of control over her".

In a statement from the partner, read out during the court sentencing, it was heard that Phillips had messaged her around midnight on the day of the attack, asking if she wanted to get drunk with him.

The 28-year-old turned up at her home at around 1.30am, already drunk, confessing love for her and her young son.

This quickly changed, the court heard, when Phillips started insulting his partner for turning the TV volume down, and accusing her of sexual activity with others.

Asking him to leave, Phillips then grabbed the phone from the victim, before strangling her.

Prosecution told the court the attack caused her to fall off her bed, before Phillips punched her and strangled her a second time.

"I had to do anything to get out of there, I was just so scared," the victim's statement read.

Fleeing from her home, she attempted to get her neighbour's attention, as Phillips started dragging her back to her property.

She started shouting and screaming louder, before neighbours responded and emergency services arrived at the scene. 

The victim statement later read: "I was so shaken up, I thought I was going to die.

"If [Phillips] had [sucessfully] dragged me back in he wouldn't have stopped and I may have been killed. I'm terrified to be in my flat and so scared he will come to the door."

Mitigating, Bob Scott of Richard Griffiths and Co told the court that Phillips had changed his plea to guilty on the first day of trial, he had been in the royal regiment of fusiliers for six years and was a talented golfer.

He said Phillips has "no intention of seeing [his former partner] again and wants to get on with his life".

Mr Scott added that the army has its own means of punishments and disciplinary action, should Phillips choose to stay.

The court heard that Phillips has previous convictions, but nothing similar to the current domestic abuse charge.

Describing the act as "terrible and unpleasant", magistrates ordered a 12-month community order for Phillips, including alcohol treatment sessions and rehabilitation activities.

He must complete 86 hours of unpaid work and pay £625 in costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

A one-year restraining order is now in force to protect the victim.

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