The victims say long sentences required to strangle non-fatal strangulation

Eve Rosato and Allen McGi

BBC News Ni

Donna Lewis believes that “there was no justice” in his case

The BBC is looking at a woman with long golden hair and blue eyes directly in the camera, ignoring. He is wearing a light colored sleeveless V-neck top. The background is out of the focus, but she is sitting on a gray couch with light green cushions, a table behind it with white flowers and a window on it. — Donna Lewis believes that “there was no justice” in his case

Donna Lewis Tod is a mother, a businessman and an online influential person. He is also the victim of a violent person who strangled him and got a suspended punishment.

He said that the punishment for non-fatal strangulation is very generous, and in his case it believes that it was “not enough, justice was not done”.

“The victims to go to court and get just a suspended punishment for an addict, it is unfair,” he said.

Lady Chief Justice told BBC News Ni that “there is a perception among some people that a suspended punishment is a ‘late -off’, however, it acts as a preventive measure”, saying that there is a sentence “hangs on the offender” hanging over the criminal who will be put into effect on committing another crime “.

Since 2020, 27 women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland.

Non-fatal throat, which became A stand-alone crime in Northern Ireland in 2023A red flag is seen as a red flag to increase violence in a relationship and is an indicator for future risk for murder or murder.

Strangulation is the second most common method of female murder in Britain, after stabbing.

‘was enough’

Donna Lewis said that her relationship, which lasted only for six months, was physically and emotionally derogatory.

“It was challenging. It takes you down until anything is left and it left me with a lot of trauma within that short time.

“I knew that I would have to call the police – was enough.

“I was afraid to do so, but it was also a way for me to disconnect a completely with that person.

“This was the best thing I ever did.”

He was accused of several crimes including non-fatal strangulation.

Donna Lewis said she was ready to witness witnesses in the court, but at the last minute her attacker convicted her petition and was suspended.

“He admitted what he had done, and it was like a slap on the wrist,” he said.

“I think why was it not taken seriously?”

Lady Chief Justice, Dame Soban Keagan said: “The structure of punishment, within which all judges should work, have been established in the law by the Department of Justice.”

In the case of Donna Lewis, Lady Chief Justice said that the judge “reminded the defendant, emphasizing the preventive measures of suspended punishment that he would be sent to jail should resume at any level in the next three years”.

Dr. John Taggart said that most of the cases are heard in the magistrate court which will attract less punishment

Queen University Belfast is looking at a man with a straight golden hair and blue eyes in the camera directly. She is wearing a light blue shirt under a dark blue neck jumper. The background is out of care, but he stands in the hallway of an office building. — Dr. John Taggart said that most of the cases are heard in the magistrate court which will attract less punishment

The Government Prosecution Service (PPS) made prosecution decisions in 278 cases of non-fatal strangulation from the end of April 2024 to the end of March 2025.

Most of those cases were processed through the Magistrate Court, which have less punishment powers.

PSNI has committed more than 600 people since implementation of two years ago.

A legal specialist at Queen University Belfast, Dr. John Taggart said that punishment in Northern Ireland could be complex.

“When judges punish someone for a particular crime, for example non-fatal strangles, they have more conscience here, they are not bound by formal guidance like England and Wales,” he told BBC News NI.

“This means that judges probably have a slightly more carrier or a slightly more carrier to incorporate factors or reduced factors.

“The figures are clear that most of these cases are being tried much more cases in magistrates, compared to the Crown Court in the Magistrate Court, always means that the cases will attract less punishment.”

Judge McClehom said that the “explosion” of non-fatal strangling cases has taken place

A man with a short white hair and a bearded man is looking at the camera, ignoring. He is wearing a gray suit jacket and white shirt with a blue pattern tie. — Judge McClehom said that the “explosion” of non-fatal strangling cases has taken place

After more than 25 years, Judge Barani McLhahom, who retired this year, described some of the criminal’s “choice of weapons” of some criminals of non-fatal strangles.

He said that in recent years there has been a “explosion” in the number of cases seen by him.

Speaking to the BBC Radio Fool’s North West Today program, he said that he heard from the victims that “this is the most frightening thing you can experience, it is like drowning”.

“This is a very, very controlled and forced and domineering strategy” that “needs widespread awareness,” he said.

Donna Lewis said that his message to others who experience misconduct is “to get out of that relationship”, saying that he felt that it was important to speak.

“It’s not easy, but I will become a voice because I know what you think to lose your voice, and I will not be silent.”