Sinister Attack After Night Out Leads to Suspended Sentence for Man

A seemingly ordinary night of drinking took a dark turn when Paul Ashurst, a 37-year-old man from Rothesay Close in east Hull, was accused of assaulting a woman he had just met. After being introduced at a pub in Holderness Road, the two groups shared some drinks before Ashurst and the woman ended up alone together, which escalated into a terrifying incident when he threatened her with violence and subsequently attacked her at her home.

Following a disagreement with her partner, the woman found herself isolated with Ashurst. After they purchased some beers and returned to her residence, Ashurst tried to kiss her, but when she refused his advances, he became aggressive, chillingly stating, "I could snap your neck." Despite her fear, she attempted to maintain composure. However, the threat was repeated and he proceeded to strangle her, causing her to fight back and manage to escape. She sought help from a neighbor and called the police.

The court learned of Ashurst's troubling history, which included multiple assault charges. His defense highlighted that he was trying to address his alcohol issues and had not faced legal trouble for a while prior to this incident. The presiding judge emphasized the seriousness of the strangulation offense, considering it particularly frightening for victims. As a result, Ashurst was sentenced to 18 months in suspension and required to complete a significant amount of unpaid community work, while also facing a restraining order to keep him away from the victim for five years.