A woman who went for drinks with a former soldier she met on a dating app was grabbed in a terrifying headlock and strangled by him on Sankey Street, Warrington.
The 30-year-old civil servant struggled to breathe and fell to the ground and a “Good Samaritan” passer-by who intervened was shoved in the chest by her attacker Callam Whyatt.
She was helped by other members of the public who ran to her aid as she lay in Sankey Street in Warrington while former soldier Whyatt fled the scene.
However Whyatt, who had earlier been “love bombing” her, then sent her a string of frightening and threatening Whatsapp messages.
His drunken erratic behaviour left her traumatised and yesterday (Thursday) he received a 23 month jail term at Liverpool Crown Court.
But a judge said the defendant had significant problems and the public would be best served by him suspending the prison sentence for two years and imposing “a very intensive period of supervision.”
This would include a “moving forward’ course and 45 days of rehabilitation activities. He also imposed a five-year restraining order to keep away from the woman.
Recorder Tim Harrington pointed out that Whyatt, of Bryntirion, Rhewl, Mostyne, Holywell, had spent several months in custody on remand which had been a difficult time for him.
Whyatt, 35, formerly of Catherine Street, Chester, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, harassment and common assault.
Chris Taylor, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the woman met Whyatt on a dating app and they began exchanging messages for a week.
In the messages he was already moving fast, talking about being her boyfriend and children and though she was cautious she agreed to meet him on July 21.
After they had a drink in The Lower Angel in Buttermarket Street he started to “love bomb” her saying he loved her. She pointed out it was only their first date and as he was plainly drunk she suggested going for a walk, said Mr Taylor.
They sat in Bank Park for a while and then went to the Nine Gallon Bar in Sankey Street. To try to de-escalate the situation she started chatting to other people and at 9.30 pm said she was going home and rejected his offer to go to a hotel.
“He started saying, ‘it’s the end, you’re leaving me’ and ‘just how it goes’.”
She walked off vaping and he ran after her and CCTV footage played to the court showed them talking for a couple of minutes before he suddenly got her in a headlock from behind and after about ten seconds she fell to the ground.
He walked off and later started messaging her saying, “You don’t want to make an enemy of me, you’ve got one chance. If you don’t agree I’ll kill you in the street.’
He said he was giving her four hours and if she did not talk to him he would come round and threatened to tell her mum. Mr Taylor explained that he knew she was in Vietnam and he regularly went to Thailand where his estranged partner and son live.
In an impact statement, the victim told how she had suffered severe psychological and emotional harm. She had been traumatised as the threats were plausible and her quality of life has ‘plummeted’ and she struggles to go out.
Jim Smith, defending, said that Whyatt, who has previous convictions, including domestic violence, was remorseful and had empathy for the victim.
He had been a Royal Military engineer between 2005 – 2012 and had tours of duty abroad including Afghanistan where he was injured with shrapnel and was discharged on medical grounds.
He became addicted to alcohol after the culture of heavy drinking in the Army and used it as a crutch because of low self-esteem. He suffered from PTSD and agoraphobia, added Mr Smith.
