'Jealous' Swindon drunk jailed for attack on girlfriend

Andrew Jarvis, of Croft Road in Swindon, had been "given a chance" after a previous conviction for strangulation, only to commit the same offence against a different woman a short time later.

Swindon Crown Court heard on Friday the victim feared she would die and that Jarvis does not remember his violent acts due to alcohol dependency.

Prosecutor Jack Barros explained that the 41-year-old met his newest victim at The Haven day centre on March 12, 2024, when they began texting each other and starting a relationship.

On March 16, while lying in bed at the hostel where the defendant lived, the victim received a text message from a male friend asking her to go to the pub with him.

This made Jarvis angry and he grabbed her around the neck for approximately five minutes.

Mr Barros added: "He said 'You are texting the next man. If I find out you are with another man, I will kill you and kill him'.

"This caused her to struggle to breathe and she had to push him off her to breathe again. She ran out, got the bus home, and started crying and hyperventilating."

After telling a friend about what happened, the victim contacted the police and mentioned that between March 14 and 17, the defendant also bit her on the arms and buttocks.

Mr Barros said: "When this would happen, she would exclaim in pain and tell him to stop but he would keep biting her."

Andrew Jarvis (Image: Wiltshire Police)

The Crown Prosecution Service representative summarised a statement from the victim, in which she said: "The incident has greatly impacted me. I thought I was going to die.

"I've had to move into a refuge out of the Swindon area because of him. This has made me depressed due to being far from family and friends.

"I hope Andrew learns it's not right to strangle anyone."

During a police interview, Jarvis claimed he couldn't remember committing the offences and that the first he'd learned of the strangulation was when the victim mentioned it in a text.

At first, he claimed the biting was playful and then, after seeing images of the injuries, claimed he could not remember causing them.

Jarvis has 17 previous convictions for 83 offences, including one prior strangulation.

He pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and causing actual bodily harm.

Richard Williams, defending, said: "It has taken some courage for him to accept the guilt, bearing in mind that he was and still is alcohol dependent and could not remember the offences at all.

"He texted the complainant days after what happened, saying sorry to her.

"There are a number of underlying issues that I have encouraged Jarvis to work on. He was drinking too much prior to these offenses.

"There are relationship issues he would do well to address. He has historic PTSD and trauma issues he has not addressed.

"He has been sober since his remand and asked me to apologise for what happened. He has let himself down and let his family down."

Judge Jason Taylor KC sentenced Jarvis to a 30-month custodial sentence, half of which will be served behind bars and the rest while out on licence, and issued a seven-year restraining order to protect the victim.

He said: "You became jealous. Alcohol made you more unpredictable and frightening.

"It's concerning that, while subject to a suspended sentence - me having given you a chance - you repeated this behaviour with a separate victim."