A man who grabbed his then partner by the throat and pushed her has been sentenced to probation.

The woman told police that she had felt like she was losing consciousness in the attack, which happened when the pair were living together in Hillside Avenue, Douglas.

Paul Allan Bollon, aged 33, of Mona Drive, Douglas, admitted common assault and was sentenced to a 12-month probation order.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him: ’I’m giving you an opportunity to avoid custody. If you breach the order custody is almost inevitable.’

We previously reported that police were called to an address at Hillside Avenue in Douglason November 30 at 11.45pm.

At the time, Bollon and the woman were in a relationship and lived together at the address.

The woman said they had argued and Bollon had grabbed her by the throat and pushed her to the ground.

She said she slapped his face and he again grabbed her by the throat.

The woman called the police and Bollon left the address.

When officers arrived she was said to be crying and visibly shaken, saying that she feared for her safety.

She said that when Bollon grabbed her by the throat she felt like she was losing consciousness.

Bollon was later arrested initially on suspicion of drink-driving but a blood test result proved that he was under the legal limit.

Advocate Kate Alexander referred to a probation report saying: ’It is clear in the latter part of 2018 Mr Bollon was in something of a downward spiral. He was under financial pressure. This incident was something of a wake-up call.

’He has made a number of positive changes. He has engaged with the Drug and Alcohol Team and there has been psychological intervention. He has taken meaningful steps to address underlying difficulties.

’He and the complainant are building bridges. She is in court to support him.’

The court heard that Bollon had been made the subject of a binding order just a month before this incident.

He was said to now be undergoing Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Ms Alexander went on to say that custody would interfere with treatment which her client was engaging well with as well as impacting on his four children.

Bollon had initially pleaded not guilty but then changed his plea to guilty two weeks before a trial was due.

Mrs Hughes ordered him to pay £625 prosecution costs.