A WOMAN believed she was going to die when her ex-boyfriend forced his way into her house and strangled her in a jealous rage.

Stephen Hemming forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s Somerford home and attacked her on Friday, January 20.

The 43-year-old personal trainer had met the victim, originally from Goostrey, in 2019 at the gym where he worked, and the two struck-up a romantic relationship.

He called at the victim’s home when she happened to be reporting his abusive text message to the police, but hid out of sight while she opened the door.

Once the door was open, he sprang out and forced his way into the house, taking her by the throat with two hands, forcing her onto her back on the stairs.

She felt she was fighting for her life, as her difficulty breathing caused her vision and hearing to be affected, and her body to feel 'strangely heavy'.

Her harrowing experience was recorded by a call handler at a police contact centre, which she called when her attacker sent her a text message calling her ‘a lying f***ing bitch’ after he saw another man leave her house.   

Former Holmes Chapel student Hemming appeared at Chester Crown Court to be sentenced on Wednesday, April 12, after being convicted of one count of intentional strangulation and one of assault by beating at a trial in Warrington on March 13. 

He had already pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage in relation to the incident at an earlier hearing. 

Prosecuting, Brett Williamson told the court Hemming had dragged the victim around the house by her arm, held her in a choke hold, and she feared him dragging her into the kitchen, where there were knives.

It was only when she had the presence of mind to grab him ‘as hard as she could’ by the genitals that he eventually let her go.

She then ran into the street where she found her neighbour who had heard the screaming, and Hemming fled, turning himself in later that day at Congleton police station.

Defending, Gavin Edmundson said an examination by a GP three days after the attack showed no physical injuries to the victim’s neck.

He also explained Hemming’s ex-wife of 23 years, and his current partner, both said they know him to be a kind, gentle man, who had never shown himself controlling or jealous in any way.

Mr Edmundson added Hemming is of previous good character, with no convictions or cautions, and is both hardworking and an excellent father to his two children, who he sees regularly and contributes financially.

Jailing Hemming, now of Park Lane, Sandbach, for two years, Judge Simon Berkson said: "This was a prolonged attack, and the victim thought she was going to be killed by you, aggravated by the fact it occurred in her own home, where she should have felt safe.

"You lost your cool, and acted in a way that caused serious harm.

"You have shown no real remorse, instead choosing to stand trial for two of the three offences, and I believe only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate."

Hemming was also made subject to a 15-year restraining order.