Penrith Man Suspended Sentence for Strangling Wife in TV Row

A Penrith man has received a suspended sentence after strangling his wife during an argument over the volume of a television.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that Stanislaw Bury, 41, and his wife of 16 years were involved in a domestic dispute at their home on May 25. According to Mrs Bury, her husband, who was heavily intoxicated, grabbed her by the throat with one hand, squeezing it so tightly that she struggled to breathe. The strangulation lasted less than five seconds, leaving her neck reddened.
Bury, of Brunswick Road, Penrith, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of intentional strangulation.
Passing sentence, District Judge Philip Holden described the offence as serious and acknowledged the fear it would have caused the victim. He noted that sentencing had been difficult but believed there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” for Bury.
The judge suspended a 12-month prison sentence for two years. Bury is required to complete up to 15 days of rehabilitation work with the probation service and a 60-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement, which involves wearing a tag that detects alcohol consumption.