Man who strangled woman jailed for over four years

Monday 10 June 2024

A 51-year-old man has been jailed for four years and three months following a sustained attack in which he spat at, kicked, and strangled a woman in her home.

John Sebastian Nicolle was also handed a ten-year Domestic Abuse Protection Order and a notification order for an indefinite period in the Royal Court sentencing on Friday.

In June last year, Nicolle assaulted the woman in her home in a sustained attack which lasted a number of hours.

Nicolle accused his victim of spending too much money and poor timekeeping.

He lost his temper and spat in her face from close range.

Nicolle also kicked the table that she was sitting at, causing her to fall backwards. 

When the woman returned to her feet, Nicolle punched her in the right eye and then slapped her left cheek, causing bruising to the right eye. 

Later that evening, Nicolle grabbed his victim with both hands around the throat, squeezing the sides of her neck for up to one minute.

Nicolle then completed some work on a wardrobe before punching his victim's face and head, causing bruising to the back of the head. 

The victim curled up in the foetal position on the floor and was kicked by Nicolle to the chest, aggravating a previous sternum injury.

Nicolle admitted to spitting at the woman and to kicking the table, but denied the remaining assaults.

He pleaded not guilty to grave and criminal assault, testifying that the woman's injuries were due to the wardrobe they were assembling falling on her head. 

Following a three-day trial, a jury unanimously found Nicolle guilty of grave and criminal assault in March.

On Friday, he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for the attack.