A VIOLENT bully who punched and strangled his wife before threatening to kill her has been jailed.

Leonard Evans and his wife had a ‘turbulent’ marriage in the lead up to the assault on February 26 last year, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Paul Wood said the victim and the defendant had a long marriage together and that a day before the assault Evans had been in a ‘bad mood’.

“On February 24, the victim said there was constant arguing. The defendant was complaining about cold food and the heating and was accusing his wife of soaking the boiler in water,” he said.

Evans, of Alder Avenue, Widnes, stormed off to bed in his bad mood. Meanwhile the victim was sat downstairs in the lounge.

“He came back into the living room and muttered ‘I will choke you’. He approached her and punched her to the left side of her face,” Mr Wood told the courts.

Evans then struck his wife again to the right side of her face and repeated ‘I will choke you’.

“He grabbed her by the front of her throat,” Mr Wood added, detailing how the victim then ‘started to panic’ and a black dot appeared in her left eye.

Evans let go of his victim and walked back to his bedroom to retrieve a quilt before returning to the living room to throw the duvet at the woman.

He then threatened her again, shouting, ‘if you do get me locked up, I will come and kill you’.

The victim called the police, and the defendant was arrested shortly after and replied no comment in an interview the following day.

He pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault by beating at the first hearing at Warrington Magistrates.

Mr Wood disclosed a previous offence relating to the same victim dating back to 2022 which involved a domestic incident where Evans threatened to kill his wife and their family cat.

He was brought to the court and fined £100 for the offence. He also has three other previous convictions.

Defending, David Rowes said: “The perception from family members is that it is out of character.

“He does wish to explain that he is genuinely remorseful and genuinely feels ashamed and embarrassed about his actions.”

Before sentencing, Recorder Bradshaw addressed the defendant, whose family sat in support at the back of the court.

He said: “You punched your partner to the face and strangled her with one hand. The injuries caused swelling to her face and cheek.

“In terms of mitigation, I take on board you are remorseful.

“Domestic abuse matters such as this are taken seriously by these courts.”

Evans was handed an immediate prison sentence of 16 months, of which he will serve half of before being released on licence.