A MAN who strangled his former partner in Ellesmere Port but left the country before his trial has been handed a 16-week jail term.

Bradley Barratt, 29, formerly of Blackthorn Avenue, was convicted in his absence in August 2017 of assaulting his former partner and causing criminal damage.

He had pleaded not guilty to the two charges, which happened in April 2017, and a trial was scheduled.

But Barratt left to go to South Africa in July 2017 and had not returned, Chester Magistrates Court heard on Thursday, March 7.

Adam Warner, prosecuting at the warrant withdrawal hearing, said it was about 10.30pm on the night of the offence when Barratt punched a wardrobe door, breaking it, and punching a mirror, which caused glass to shatter everywhere including on to a bed where his six-year-old son slept.

He grabbed the partner by the throat, lifting her off the ground, and put his thumbs to her eyes in an attempt to gouge them while attempting to strangle her.

The partner believed he was going to kill her and pretended to be dead, to which he responded: "I am sorry, please wake up."

The victim said it was "a traumatic experience," Mr Warner told the court.

Barratt had previously been convicted in 2011 at Preston Crown Court of assault.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders sentenced Barratt to 16 weeks in prison for the assault, with a four-week prison sentence for criminal damage to run concurrently.

He was ordered to pay £620 court costs, a £115 victim surcharge and £300 compensation to his victim.

A warrant for his arrest was issued, meaning he would likely be immediately arrested if he set foot in the UK again.