Personal trainer, 34, avoids jail after he choked his girlfriend and pulled out a clump of her hair

A personal trainer who choked his girlfriend and pulled out a clump of her hair during two separate attacks at her home has avoided jail.

Norrell Wisdom also bombarded his partner of four years with 25 phone calls and messages in one day after he was arrested last week in Newcastle.

A court heard that the 34-year-old launched his first attack on the victim at her home in Kenton on February 24, when he pushed her over and choked her by grabbing her around the neck while pinning her down.  

On April 7, Wisdom assaulted her again, this time pulling out a clump of her hair. He was arrested the day after on April 8.

Wisdom appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one of stalking.

Outlining the case, James Long, prosecuting, said the first attack happened on February 24 this year while Wisdom and his partner were in bed at the latter’s home.

Mr Long added: ‘He’s pushed her from the back and got on top of her and began choking her with his hands.

‘She had bruising to her neck and bruising to her legs, arms and knees. She said it all happened so quickly that she didn’t know where all the bruises came from but she thought it must have been when he had his knee on her chest and was choking her.’

The court was told that the second assault happened less than two months later on April 7, when Wisdom pulled out a clump of the victim’s hair, again at her home address.

Mr Long continued: ‘He was arrested for that and bailed to go back to the police station in May but he then committed the stalking offence, which involves 25 phone calls to her on one day on April 12.’

Wisdom, who has past convictions for violence but none of a domestic nature, cried in the dock as the case against him was heard.

Kate Matthews, defending, said the first assault happened after an argument erupted between the pair as he wouldn’t let her read through his mobile phone.

She added: ‘Mr Wisdom was in full-time employment as a personal trainer, however, that has been lost because of the recent lockdown situation.

‘I think the tension in the house, because of the current situation, contributed to the second assault.’

Ms Matthews said none of the phone calls or messages sent to the victim by Wisdom were threatening but were apologetic and asking to make it up to her.

Wisdom was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay £150 compensation.

District Judge Sarah Griffiths told him they were serious offences.

She said Wisdom had grabbed his girlfriend around the neck and attempted to strangle her.

‘Fortunately, you didn’t strangle her to the point she lost consciousness.

‘You were on top of her. You’re a tall person and you’re strangling her around the throat, that must have been absolutely petrifying for her.

‘A couple of months later, you grabbed her by the hair and pulled her hair out’.

Judge Griffiths said it was ‘very disappointing’ to see Wisdom before the courts in relation to domestic abuse.

‘You seem to have stopped offending against members of the public and taken it out now on the people that loved you the most. That’s worse because of the breach of trust and love.’

Wisdom was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting his girlfriend for six months.