A woman who punched, strangled and bit her husband in their Penrith flat as a short-lived marriage broke down has been spared immediate prison.
Madarela Ivanova, now 25, had tied the knot with a man around four years her junior, Carlisle Crown Court heard yesterday. It was a relationship which Ivanova herself conceded was ‘toxic’, and had lasted six months.
After inflammatory phone contact between the pair, she turned violent inside their property on August 1 last year punching him repeatedly, strangling him several times, biting and banging his head against a wall.
Her erratic behaviour included threats of self-harm and cutting herself with a knife.
The man later described bruises across his body ranging in size from two inches in diameter to six. He also reported reduced mobility in the aftermath.
Ivanova admitted charges of strangulation and actual bodily harm assault.
The court heard of childhood challenges faced by Ivanova, now of Pacific Court, Hull.
The Latvian national was left living alone in the UK several years ago, had tried to piece things together ever since and more recently suffered from mental health issues.
Judge Michael Fanning noted Ivanova was also a woman of previous good character who had stable accommodation and employment.
As a result, Judge Fanning suspended a year-long prison sentence for 12 months, concluding that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Ivanova must complete work with the probation service which is aimed at preventing her from reoffending, and was banned from contacting the man for five years.
“You steer well away from him,” the judge told her. “That relationship is completely dead.”
