A WREXHAM man has been jailed after a "momentary loss of control" whilst drunk saw him strangle his wife.

Romulus Jurj, of Brynycabanau Road in Wrexham, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old had previously been convicted of one offence of intentional strangulation.

Laura Knightly, prosecuting, told the court the complainant was Roxana Jurj - the defendant's wife.

They had been in a relationship for 23 years before the offence, which happened on May 11 this year when the defendant was drunk.

An argument occurred between them, during which Romulus Jurj took hold of his wife's neck with one hand and her shoulder with the other.

She described the grip, which lasted for two to three seconds, as very painful.

Mrs Jurj was left with red marks on her neck.

Romulus Jurj (NWP)Romulus Jurj (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police) Oliver King, defending, told the court: "His best point in mitigation is his guilty plea, because it shows his acceptance of responsibility.

"He has no convictions, cautions or reprimands which enables me to advance to the court that his behaviour on this day was out of character.

"In terms of why it happened, it was a stressful time for him.

"He was, and is still, undergoing numerous investigations for cancer and this was playing on his mind at the time.

"He took the view his wife was being unsympathetic about it.

"This was made worse when he drank vodka, which allowed a fairly trivial argument to escalate.

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"He accepts there was a momentary loss of control by him."

Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant: "Strangulation is a serious and frightening offence; even if the strangulation doesn't last long.

"You were drunk and an argument developed.

"Your hand was only around her neck for a few seconds but it left red marks.

"That shows you must have been using considerable force."

Judge Petts jailed the defendant for 12 months and imposed a 10 year restraining order to protect Mrs Jurj.