A 34-year-old man who admitted attempting to strangle his ex-partner has been given a 12-month suspended jail sentence. 

David Ward, of Russell Road, Felixstowe, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday.

Previously, Ward pleaded guilty to assault and non-fatal strangulation of his ex-partner, who he lived with at the time of the event, on July 3, 2022. 

Ward was strangling and punching the woman while he was under the influence of alcohol, the court heard. 

The incident happened in the presence of a 15-year-old child. 

Ward and the woman were not together anymore but lived in the same home as “friends”. 

The incident, described by the judge as "utterly disgraceful”, left the woman “emotionally and financially drained”, the court was told.

She suffered numerous bruises on her body and lost her voice due to shouting for help when Ward assaulted her. 

Ward has been given a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. 

He also has to take on up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities, attend 60 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring and start a 12-month mental health treatment. 

Ward has previous nine convictions, all unrelated to domestic abuse and strangulation.