Mildura man Ed Neyland pleads guilty after vicious drunken choking attack on woman and dog

A Mildura man terrorised a woman and attempted to strangle her dog in a drunken late night attack, a court has heard.

Neyland verbally and physically attacked the woman before turning his rage towrd the victim’s pet dog. Pictuire: Generic

A Mildura maniac verbally and physically assaulted a woman and attempted to choke her dog during a violent outburst, a court has heard.

Edward Neyland fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to multiple charges, including choking and making threats to kill.

The court heard on January 7, around 11pm, Neyland arrived at the woman’s Mildura address drunk, and began verbally abusing her.

The abuse escalated when Neyland grabbed the victim by her throat and choked her before threatening to bash her head in and kill her.

Not content with his violent attack on the victim, Neyland turned his rage at her dog, strangling it. Picture: Generic/istock

Neyland told the victim he was going to slit her dog’s throat as he grabbed her by the jaw and hurled more verbal abuse at her.

When Neyland turned his sights on the victim’s pet and began choking the dog, the victim intervened and Neyland began strangling her again.

The victim eventually managed to escape to a neighbour’s house and hide underneath a caravan until Neyland left.

Neyland’s lawyer Peter Delorenzo accepted his client would serve time behind bars, and said his client would benefit from a community corrections order when he is released so he could get help with his anger issues and drug problem, adding Neyland took full responsibility.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said the court could not tolerate Neyland’s conduct and his type of offending was a huge problem in every community.

Neyland was sentenced to three months behind bars at Mildura Magistrates’ Court

“The fact the victim has to flee from you and hide to try to avoid your conduct is obviously of great concern,” Mr Coghlan said.

“Had you not pleaded guilty, I would have sentenced you to six months in prison.”

Neyland was sentenced to three months behind bars, and will be subject to a 12 month CCO when he is released, where he will be assessed for programs to address his anger and drug issues.

With three days reckoned as pre-sentence detention, Neyland will likely be released in late June.