Man jailed for choke attack on pregnant woman in Leeds bar

A MAN who grabbed the pregnant mother of his children around the throat and choked her in a bar has been jailed.

Jermain Ogunbiyi was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence over the attack in the Backroom bar in Leeds city centre.

A court heard Ogunbiyi, 26, was subject to a suspended prison sentence for a violent attack at the time of the incident and has previous convictions for attacks on the same woman.

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Leeds Crown Court heard the woman was four months pregnant with his child at the time of incident on April 5 last year and they also have a daughter together.

The woman had gone to the bar to celebrate her birthday. The court heard Ogunbiyi and the woman were no longer in a relationship at the time.

Ogunbiyi’s younger sister was part of a group out celebrating with the victim.

Lorraine Harris, prosecuting, said Ogunbiyi was also in the bar with other people as he wanted to look after his sister.

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Mrs Harris said Ogunbiyi went up to his former partner early in the evening and went to wish her a happy birthday.

The prosecutor said he became violent later in the evening.

She said: “The defendant approached her and was in a rage.

“Without warning he grabbed her around the throat and caused her to struggle for breath.

Ogunbiyi was ejected from the club by door staff and the woman was taken to hospital. She suffered bruising and marks to her neck and had stomach pains.

Ogunbiyi, of Hamilton View, Chapeltown, Leeds, was arrested and claimed he had become angry with the woman after seeing her drinking alcohol.

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He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard Ogunbiyi has a previous conviction for causing rib injuries to the same victim when he pushed her to the floor after they had rowed in a nightclub.

Simon Alexander, mitigating, said: “He stupidly allowed his anger to take over.

“He seems to have learnt nothing. He was arrested and interviewed and fully accepted what he had done.

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Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, told Ogunbiyi: “Your victim was vulnerable because of her personal circumstances.

“I am satisfied that you intended to commit more serious harm than what was done.

“The offence took place in a bar and it has had a terrible effect on her.

“She doesn’t feel safe. She has had to pack her things and take her children. When you were choking her all she could see was your eyes staring at her.

The judge added: “You are a man who is going to have to learn how to control your temper.”