41-year-old throttled partner putting hands over her mouth and nose

Tony Savioni was in an on-off, volatile relationship with his victim for around three years, Preston Crown Court heard, which all came to a head in July last year.

Prosecuting, Lisa Worsley said the pair had been to the pub at around 3pm on July 10, but when Savioni became moody, his then-partner decided to leave.

She went before him but stopped off at a garage on the way back, meaning he then overtook her.

Ms Worsley told the court: “He called her and asked her where she was and said he had cut his hand after trying to get into her house through the bathroom window.

“When she arrived back they began arguing and he called her a ‘fat c**t’, a ‘fat waster’ and a ‘morphine head’.

“He was standing over her and she was sat on the bed, and then he lunged at her and grabbed her throat, called her a ‘fat c**t’ again and started accusing her of leaving him with no money.”

Tony Savioni (Image: Lancs Police)

Ms Worsley said there was a discussion about a cash machine and the victim got up, but he grabbed her by the throat again and began pulling her hair.

She said: “She tried to tell him to stop but couldn’t get her words out.”

He grabbed her again and put his hand over her mouth and nose and told her to stop screaming; at one point said he would “f***ing kill her”.

Ms Worsley went on: “She described a look of evil in his eyes.”

They then made their way to a cash machine and she withdrew £10 for him before going inside the garage, where she was crying hysterically.

The shop assistant asked if she wanted to call the police, before Savioni made an appearance and began shouting at her, saying: “If you get me done, I will get you back”.

Savioni was arrested and interviewed but provided no comment.

The 41-year-old of Dowry Street, Accrington, has 19 convictions for 30 offences and was convicted at Blackburn Magistrates after trial of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

In sentencing, Judge Darren Preston said: “I don’t accept there’s a shred of remorse from him, as in the pre-sentence report it says everyone else is to blame for his violence and he’s the victim and is not responsible for anything.

“I don’t accept for a second he’s ashamed of what he’s done.

“You are a bully and a coward and a self-pitying liar and have accepted no responsibility at all for your behaviour or violence towards this woman.”

Savioni was jailed for two and a half years and was made subject to a five-year restraining order in respect of his victim.