A MAN has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and disqualified from driving for drink driving for assaulting a woman.

Matthew Ponchaud, 51, of Bournemouth was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, August 11, after pleading guilty to the intentional strangulation of a woman and common assault, following an incident at an address in Tisbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

Ponchaud later made several phone calls to the victim, in breach of his bail conditions, and on Monday, January 9 threatened to kill her if she did not drop the charges.

Further to this, on Tuesday, March 7, he was stopped on High Street, Hindon and was arrested for drink driving after blowing 74 at the roadside.

For driving over the alcohol limit and two counts of assault, Ponchaud was given a custodial sentence of six months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £187 and disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for 27 months

For intentional strangulation and another count of assault, Ponchaud was sentenced to a further 12 months in prison, ordered to pay £187 surcharge, given a restraining order not to contact the victim, and given a further two months in prison to run concurrently.

Local crime investigator for Wiltshire Police Martin Batchelor said: “I want to pay tribute to Ponchaud’s victim, who despite intimidation continued to bravely speak to us about what had happened so that we were able to bring him to justice.

“We would always urge anyone who has been the victim of abuse, no matter when the offences occurred, to come forward and speak to police. We have specially trained teams to investigate these types of crimes and we will deal with your report sensitively.”

Crime can be reported to Wiltshire Police via its website, by calling 101, or dialling 999 in an emergency.