Bishop Auckland, England — A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting his former partner in a violent attack that left her fearing for her life. Irmantas Zilinskas, who appeared in Durham Crown Court, was convicted of intentional strangulation and suffocation after a night of drinking escalated into a terrifying ordeal for the victim.
The incident, which took place on June 19, resulted in Zilinskas using a towel to strangle the woman, who later described feeling as though she was going to die. The court heard that the assault began when Zilinskas became aggressive after they returned home from drinking. He reportedly placed his hands over her mouth and nose, depriving her of air as she struggled to breathe.
During the attack, Zilinskas told the victim chillingly that “no one is coming for you.” As she gasped for air, she attempted to scream for help but was unable to do so. In a desperate bid to escape his grip, she feigned an epileptic fit, which temporarily distracted him until she lost consciousness and later regained awareness in the bathroom.
The violence escalated as Zilinskas wrapped a towel around her neck, tightening it as she fought back. In her struggle, she injured her ankle against a mirror, but despite her plight, he only decided to take her to the hospital afterward.
On the way to the hospital, the victim managed to write “help” on the condensation of the car window while they stopped at a petrol station. She eventually saw a police officer and made a run for help, prompting Zilinskas’s arrest shortly thereafter. Initially, he denied the accusations and claimed that the woman had been the aggressor.
In court, a representative for the prosecution detailed the traumatic experience the victim endured, emphasizing her near suffocation and the emotional toll of the attack. The woman expressed in a victim impact statement that she genuinely believed she would not survive the assault.
Meanwhile, Zilinskas’s defense attorney argued that he had no prior convictions and expressed remorse for his actions. He claimed Zilinskas had led a mostly trouble-free life and intended to take his former partner to the hospital to help her after the incident. However, these claims did little to sway the judge, who condemned the attack as a “terrible and violent assault, aggravated by drink.”
Ultimately, Judge Thomas Mitchell sentenced Zilinskas to 36 months in prison and imposed a lifelong restraining order to protect the victim. The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and the severe consequences that can result from such actions.