Sean Dylan Black jailed for five years for choking former partner in terrifying attack

A martial arts teacher threatened to kill his former partner and choked her unconscious in a sickening attack, before trying to manipulate her to drop the charges.

A father-of-three who threatened to kill his former partner before choking her unconscious then tried to convince her to drop the charges, a court has heard.

Sean Dylan Black, 46, was fuelled by jealous rage when he committed the reign of terror.

The Adelaide District Court heard Black and the victim ended their relationship in February 2020.

However, Black entered her house through a manhole in the ceiling on March 7, 2020.

The victim asked Black to leave.

“You started asking the victim who she was sleeping with and if she had been cheating on you,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing

After the victim told Black they were no longer in a relationship, he used his palm to hit her in the nose, causing her to bleed profusely.

“You threatened to kill her if she did not tell you who she had been sleeping with,” Judge Barklay said.

Black then pushed the victim to the ground and started choking her until she passed out.

The victim managed to break free and ran to the front door.

“You caught up with her, took her to the ground again and choked her unconscious,” Judge Barklay said.

The victim managed to call police and Black was arrested.

Black sent the victim various letters to the victim from custody in a “sustained, deliberate attempt” to try and convince her to drop the charges.

“You wrote that the victim would have to be clear to police that you did not enter her home and you did not choke her. In other words, you wanted her to lie to the police,” Judge Barklay said.

Sean Black was jailed for his horrific assault on his former partner. Photo: Facebook

Black, of Salisbury Heights, pleaded guilty to unlawful choking and dissuading a witness from producing evidence at judicial proceedings.

Judge Barklay said it was clear the offending had a profound impact on the victim.

“She describes the choking incident as being a terrifying experience,” he said.

“She did not know whether she was going to survive.”

The court heard the father-of-three previously ran a business teaching martial arts, specifically jiu jitsu.

“I was told after the breakdown of your relationship, you returned to drug use and remained drug addicted up until the time of your arrest,” Judge Barklay said.

The court heard Black was “deeply ashamed” of his offending and acknowledged his actions were cowardly.

“You say that you have worked hard to change yourself. I am somewhat sceptical about your claims but time will tell,” Judge Barklay said.

Judge Barklay said the choking offence was “inherently dangerous” and the letters were an attempt by Black to continue to control the victim.

He sentenced Black to five years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of three years and two months.

“The fact that the victim was bleeding from the nose and you had threatened to kill her immediately before choking her unconscious compounded the terror that she felt,” Judge Barklay said.

“Women need to be protected from men like you, men who are unable to control their anger and petty jealousies.”

The sentence was backdated to March 8, 2020.