Man Jailed for 18 Years After Strangling Partner in Nightmare Attack
A man who claimed a bizarre dream about cage fighting led him to strangle his partner has been locked up for 18 years. Bradley Souto attacked Rebecca Jackson as she slept on the evening of November 13, 2019, nearly killing her.
Attack Interrupted by Quick-Thinking Paramedics
After choking Rebecca unconscious, Souto called his mother, who urged him to ring 999. An ambulance passing nearby was diverted to their Farm Drive, Alvaston home, where paramedics rushed in to save her life. Meanwhile, Souto slashed his wrists in a bid to harm himself.
‘I Was Dreaming I Was Cage Fighting’ – His Shocking Defence
The 30-year-old former builder denied attempted murder and said he woke up mid-chokehold, confused, blaming a vivid dream where he saw himself fighting in a cage. His defence argued he wasn’t fully in control.
But detectives, alongside sleep experts and the Crown Prosecution Service, dismantled his story. The jury took just over an hour at Derby Crown Court to find him guilty in January after a gruelling two-week trial.
Victim’s Harrowing Statement: “My Life Is Shattered”
“My life has been completely turned upside down and far from normal since that day. The trauma affects me and my children every day. I can’t even let my children hug me around the neck anymore—it panics me and brings back the fear.
The thought of ever having another relationship terrifies me. I don’t know if I could ever trust someone again or share a bed.
“I’m lucky to have had my family’s support. Without them, I don’t know how I’d have got through this.”
DC Joe Lovelock, who led the probe, said: “This case was extraordinary. A murder charge would have been likely if that ambulance hadn’t been so close. Rebecca’s bravery and the expert evidence were crucial.
“Almost 18 months on, the impact still runs deep. I hope today’s sentence brings Rebecca some closure so she can start rebuilding her life.”
