Keiran Matthew Poynton pleads guilty in Beenleigh District Court to strangulation

A Logan man has been released on parole after grabbing his partner by the throat and squeezing until she felt something “click”, a court has heard.

A Logan man has been sentenced for strangling his partner because he believed she was secretly seeing another person.

Keiran Matthew Poynton, 32, of Kingston appeared in Beenleigh District Court via videolink this morning (August 1) where he pleaded guilty to three domestic violence offences: strangulation, wilful damage and making threats.

The court heard the charges related to a series of events which took place on January 23 after Poynton woke up in an “agitated mood”.

Crown prosecutor Ming Gu said Poynton called his victim a “ganger”, asking her: “Who are you seeing? Who is it?”

She assured him she was not seeing anybody else, but he became increasingly tense and continued to question her.

Later that day, Poynton locked the back door of their house and questioned her again, punching a door twice.

The court heard Poynton then grabbed the woman by the neck and pinned her against a wall, squeezing her throat until she felt something “click”.

A burning sensation filled her ears and she felt as if she was going to fall asleep.

She tapped Poynton’s hand, he released her, and she fell to the ground.

Poynton then picked up what she thought was a screwdriver, telling her if she called the police: “I’ll f***ing kill you”.

Ms Gu said the woman ran from the property and called for help.

Police arrived at the scene where they found her with redness and scratches around her neck. She did not receive medical treatment or suffer permanent injuries.

Defence barrister Halley Robertson said the offending, while very serious, related to a single event and the victim never lost consciousness.

Ms Robertson said her client initially cooperated with police, but later chose not to participate in a formal interview.

The court heard Poynton had five children and a history of alcohol and drug abuse, starting drinking at the age of 12 and using cannabis at 14.

Ms Robertson said her client intended to resume work as a plasterer upon his release.

Mr Chowdhury took into account Poynton’s 190 days in custody, early pleas of guilty, work history, personal circumstances and the seriousness of his offending.

He sentenced Poynton to a total of two years’ jail, with immediate parole release.

Mr Chowdhury declared the 190 days he spent in custody time already served under the sentence.