Rainworth man attacked partner and set dog on fire in drunken rage
A man from Rainworth has been jailed after strangling his partner and setting fire to her dog in a drunken rage back in January.
A man who strangled his partner and set fire to her dog in a drunken rage back in January has now been jailed.
Paul Williamson, 53 and from Rainworth, woke from the sofa on 5 January this year to make unfounded accusations against his partner before smashing her phone.
He then poured white spirit on the carpet and setting a patch on fire, threatening to "burn the house down". He put it out before it could spread.
He also set fire to a female German shepherd, but, again, put the flames out before she could be seriously injured.
Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said: “In a few hours on a single night, you wreaked havoc on a person with whom you were in a supposedly caring relationship.
“On this night, you were just about as obnoxious to a person as anyone could possibly be. You threatened to burn the house down and poured inflammable liquid about, firstly on the carpet and secondly on a dog who was completely blameless in all this.
“You started a fire that could have got out of control in a second.
“Events then took an even more sinister turn. You followed her into the kitchen, you pushed her to the floor, you got on top of her and placed both hands around her neck. You then strangled her to the point she became unconscious.
“Strangulation is a very dangerous thing to do. It takes seconds to kill someone. It takes seconds to cause them brain damage because the oxygen or blood supply is cut off.
“You did not give a fig about that in your drunken rage and you didn’t let it stop there. You told her she had to clean up the mess you had made and when she was slow to do your bidding you assaulted her twice and hit her with a walking stick.
“You then strangled her again, this time with more force. You later attempted to strangle her with a dog lead and it was only because she got her fingers between the lead and her neck that you did not kill her.
“As a final insult, you told her to buy cigarettes and not come back. She had done nothing to deserve any of this as you now recognise.”
The attack only ended when he sent her out to buy him cigarettes and she was able to phone the police.
In interviews, Williamson answered 'no comment', however pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life, two counts of intentional strangulation, attempted intentional strangulation, causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, two counts of assault by beating, and criminal damage.
Detective Constable David Passmore, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Public Protection unit, said: “This is a truly disturbing case that saw Williamson repeatedly attack his victim and set fire to her dog.
“I wish to thank the victim for her courage in reporting this to police. I truly hope that now Williamson is behind bars for his inexcusable crimes, she is able to move forward and recover from the abuse she has suffered.
“We absolutely do not tolerate domestic abuse in Nottinghamshire and would urge anyone who is suffering abuse, or anyone who has concerns that a friend or loved one may be in danger, to contact police. Our officers and a range of support agencies are here to help, you are not alone.”
Williamson, of Coopers Rise, was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by two on extended licence. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order.