A MAN has been jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to assaulting a woman in South Craven, suffocating her with a cushion and damaging her property.

Alex Balcombe was in drink when he carried out the attack at a house in the Glusburn area on the night of February 23.

At York Crown Court, the 29-year-old admitted suffocation, criminal damage and assault by beating.

As well as the prison term, Balcombe – who is from Penrith but has no fixed address – was made the subject of a ten-year restraining order to protect his victim, and was ordered to pay £250 compensation for the criminal damage caused.

Detective Constable Abigail Garford, from North Yorkshire Police's safeguarding investigation team, said after the hearing: "Balcombe carried out a terrifying attack on his victim.

"That night, Balcombe was drunk. He was verbally abusive towards the victim to the point that she did not feel safe in her own home.

"Her intention was to call a taxi so she could get to a place of safety, however Balcombe became violent. He pushed her onto a sofa, causing an injury to her back. He tried to pin her to the sofa and take her phone off her.

"It then turned sinister when he grabbed a cushion and forcibly held it over the victim's face to the point where she was fighting for breath. She really thought she was going to die.

"Thankfully, she was able to free herself and took a taxi to her friend's house while Balcombe smashed the bedroom door in anger and damaged other parts of the house."

DC Garford praised the victim for her bravery in coming forward.

She said Balcombe had taken advantage of the victim's mental and physical vulnerabilities following a serious accident a few years ago in which she suffered a brain injury.

DC Garford said: "It was a pleasure to work with the victim in this case. She is such a lovely person, and I found her resilience inspiring.

"Even getting to and from the court was demanding for her due to her difficulties, let alone having to be in the same building as the man who had put her through this terrible ordeal.

"She demonstrated incredible strength and determination throughout.

"The victim said the motivation for going through this process was that she was worried for other women, knowing what Balcombe is capable of doing."