AN abusive man who repeatedly attacked and threatened his ex-partner has been handed a lifetime ban from contacting her but avoided immediate jail time.

Kelby Buckley, formerly of Winsford but now of Rose Close, Blacon, appeared at Chester Crown Court on July 22 for sentencing on four offences.

The 26-year-old was charged with two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of intentional strangulation and one of sending an offensive message.

These charges followed a series of incidents involving Buckley and his then partner, who were together for nine months.

Buckley's abusive incidents were reported to Cheshire Police before he handed himself in to officers in April last year.

On one occasion, the victim reported Buckley was stood shouting outside her mum's house, threating to 'kick the chin off her son's face', kill her parents and blow up her ex's car with him in it.

During one incident in December 2022, Buckley picked up the victim by her throat and slammed her into the floor, where she landed on her child's chair, causing an injury she had looked at in the Victoria Infirmary.

Then, on March 17, 2023, the couple were in the defendant's Winsford flat when an argument broke out.

As the row escalated, Buckley punched and kicked the woman repeatedly, causing her to fall to the floor.

When she tried to get up, he grabbed her by the throat and threw her down, kicking her again. According to police, Buckley had strangled her so hard, the victim felt dizzy and struggled to breathe.

During this incident, Buckley also repeatedly sprayed a fire extinguisher in the woman's face, aiming at her mouth.

Buckley initially denied the assault and strangulation charges, but changed his plea to guilty on April 23 this year. He admitted sending the offensive message on July 22.

At that hearing, Judge Steven Everett sentenced Buckley to 15 months in prison, but suspended the term for two years.

He was also ordered to abstain from alcohol for 120 days and complete up to 30 days of rehabilitation activity.

Buckley was also slapped with an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting his victim through any means, including via the internet or social media.