A drug-fuelled abuser who choked his partner unconscious when she refused to hand over cash has tripped himself up by begging police to help retrieve his belongings – and admitting the attack in the process.
Horrific Attack Over Cocaine Cash
Garry Blanchard lashed out a month earlier, throttling the woman while they were in bed after she said no to funding his cocaine habit. Terrified, she kept silent until Blanchard showed up at a police station claiming she had “gone nuts” and that he’d only grabbed her neck in self-defence.
Slip of the Tongue Sparks Police Action
Blanchard’s confession triggered a welfare check that uncovered the brutal truth. Newcastle Crown Court heard the couple had been together three years, but things turned sour after he moved in, with her footing the bills while he demanded money for drugs. During a New Year’s Day row, Blanchard pinned the victim down and squeezed her neck so hard she lost consciousness. When she woke, he warned her to “keep your gob shut” and not to tell anyone.
Victim Left Bruised, Scared, and Silenced
- She suffered bruises, severe neck pain, lost her voice, and was too scared to seek medical help.
- In a victim statement, she said: “I think he is capable of killing someone and killing me.”
- “He is very strong and doesn’t know his own strength. I don’t want to see him again.”
Blanchard Gets Suspended Sentence After Guilty Plea
Blanchard, 54, from County Durham, who has a history of battery and harassment, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The strangulation charge was dropped. He was handed a 12-month suspended sentence and a restraining order. The court was told he has recently sought help for his cocaine and alcohol abuse, showing signs of improvement.
