Man jailed for "horrific and terrifying" attack on partner

Tuesday 20 August 2024

A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for a "horrific and terrifying" attack which left his victim fearing for her life.

Andrew Scott Page was found guilty of grave and criminal assault in April following a trial in the Royal Court.

He was today also sentenced to two months in prison for stealing a bracelet from a jeweller's shop, which he pleaded guilty to.

Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, described how Page had taken alcohol and prescription medication before the assault, during which he screamed in the victim's face, grabbed her around the throat, and tried to gouge her eyes.

When the victim grabbed a knife, Page picked one up too, but they both put their knives down again.

After the assault, Page went to the police station and claimed his partner had assaulted him, but police became suspicious after he gave "an inconsistent and confusing account". He was then arrested. 

In a separate incident, Page had entered a jeweller's shop together with a woman. He made derogatory comments to the salesman, who was described as "elderly", and stole a bracelet valued at somewhere between £200 and £1,000.

Defending, Advocate Heidi Heath pointed to longstanding mental health issues experienced by the defendant.

Delivering the sentence, the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, said the court had become "much more astute" to the seriousness of domestic violence, and that non-fatal strangulation was a serious aggravating factor.

He said: "It must have been, in any analysis, a horrific and terrifying experience for her."

Page was given a four-and-a-half year jail sentence for the grave and criminal assault, as well as two months for larceny, running consecutively.

He was also given a domestic abuse protection order and placed on the domestic abuse register. 

The Jurats sitting were Elizabeth Dulake, Steven Austin-Vautier, Gareth Hughes, Michael Entwistle, and Michael Berry.