A HOMELESS alcoholic has been jailed for throttling his ex-partner after defying a court order to stay away from her.

Dean Wale had been drinking before he went to the woman’s home at a flat in Crediton and demanded to be allowed inside to see their young baby.

He was subject to a Domestic Violence Protection Order at the time and had been forced to move out of the home because of concerns by Social Services about the safety of the child.

His ex opened the door without realising it was him and he grabbed her round the throat when she told him to leave and said she was going to call the police.

He continued putting pressure on her neck until she felt light-headed and he then snatched her phone and punched her on the jaw. A neighbour heard her cries for help and went to her rescue.

The neighbour also called the police and Wale left the scene, making a false allegation of child abuse against his ex as he went.

She wrote a victim personal statement which said Wale’s behaviour had deteriorated because of his drinking and drug taking and she was worried that she may have her child taken into care.

Wale, aged 37, who was living in a tent near a Crediton church at the time, admitted strangulation and assault causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 14 months by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: “You left marks from the strangulation and a bruise on her jaw and there will have been a psychological impact from your aggression.

“This was domestic abuse against your ex-partner in her own home.

“Until you come to terms with your demons and with drink, you will pose a risk to anyone with whom you are in a relationship. You have some history of non-compliance with court order and you were in breach of a Domestic Violence Protection Order.”

Miss Althea Brooks, prosecuting, said the victim ended the relationship and Wale had been forced to leave her flat after social services became involved.

She saw him in Crediton High Street on October 27 and he asked her for money, which she refused because she thought he would spend it on drink or drugs.

He went to her flat at 8pm the same night and attacked her when she refused to let him in and told him to leave. He strangled her for 35 seconds and punched her, leaving her in pain and distress.

He approached a female police officer who arrived at the scene and told her that his ex-partner was “a child molester”.

Mr William Parkhill, defending, said Wale has succeeded in detoxing while in custody since his arrest and is keen to work with probation to tackle the underlying issues of substance abuse when he is freed.

He also has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and his treatment had been disrupted by a change of case worker. He used alcohol to help him forget traumatic events in his past.