Man who claimed he was attacked by two men in Peterborough jailed
The 40-year-old made a fake 999 call to report the 'attack'
A man who tried to cover his tracks by making a fake 999 call saying two men had attacked him in Peterborough has been jailed for nine months.
In fact 40-year-old Stephen Layton had attempted to strangle and assaulted friends and family at a house in the Peterborough following an argument with his partner.
It happened in August last year.
Neighbours heard the commotion and assisted in getting Layton away from the house after he initially refused to leave.
He was found by police in a phone box after his fake 999 call was responded to by officers.
Earlier in the day, he had travelled from Glasgow with his partner and their young child to stay with a friend and their son in Peterborough.
An argument broke out around 10.45pm after Layton was unsympathetic to his partner. She was remotely dealing with the needs of her autistic child who had remained in Scotland.
The hosting friend was woken by the argument and tried to offer support explaining to Layton how autism presents in children.
Angry at her intervention, Layton pushed her and attempted to assault his partner, but the friend stepped between them to break it up.
Layton then pushed the 51-year-old friend to the ground and attempted to strangle her to the point she could not breathe. She struggled free only for Layton to do the same to his 41-year-old partner.
The friend had to intervene again when Layton began attacking her 27-year-old son as he came downstairs, causing scratches to his neck.
In her attempts to protect her son, she was again attacked by Layton who attempted to strangle her. She shouted to her son to call the police after she got free.
Layton, of Govan Road, Glasgow, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18th March, to nine months in prison for intentional strangulation and assault.
He also pleaded guilty to assault by beating and possession of cannabis for which no separate penalty was given. The drugs were destroyed and he was ordered to pay £250 compensation each to the friend and her son.
Sentencing him the magistrate said:
“The offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified because of an unprovoked attack of a serious nature.”
Detective Constable Kara Halls said:
“Layton is a violent and unpredictable man who selfishly got angry when his partner was dealing with her autistic child’s needs.
“I hope this sentence will make Layton reflect on his sudden violent outburst and anger issues and seek help to prevent further violent incidents occurring.”
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