The thug who strangled a woman becomes one of the first to be jailed under non-fatal strangulation laws

A thug who strangled a woman has become one of the first people in Britain to be jailed under the new non-fatal strangulation law.

Benjamin Flatters, 32, who had previously been jailed for throwing glasses at two women and using a knife to march around a hotel, strangled the victim at her home in Lincolnshire in June after meeting her on Tinder just six previous week.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Flatters, from Spalding, held the victim’s neck with her arms for five minutes before she was able to escape and had neighbors call for help.

Flatters also threatened to burn the house down for fear of going to jail.

Police arrested him at the scene and said the victim was found with red marks around his neck but did not suffer any serious injuries.

Flatters was jailed for 34 months on Wednesday after pleading guilty to non-fatal strangulation, threatening to burn the woman’s home and criminal damage.

Benjamin Flatters (pictured), 32, from Spalding, has been jailed for 34 months under the new non-fatal strangulation law after strangling a woman for 5 minutes

It comes after Tyler Lowe (pictured), 28, was also jailed for two years under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 earlier this month. He was jailed after pleading guilty to strangling, strangling, assault and damaging the victim’s phone

He also had to serve an additional 12 months with his license renewed after his release and was fined with a 10-year ban.

New non-fatal strangulation laws were enacted nationally on June 7 to protect victims of domestic abuse and reflect the seriousness of the assault, which previously meant common assault crime.

Offenders can now face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and the law states that victims may be left with little or no marks on their bodies.

Lincolnshire Police said it was the county’s first case brought under the new law, which it described as ‘potentially life-changing’.

Tyler Lowe, 28, was jailed for two years in early August under the same law after choking and choking his partner with a pillow shortly after he was released from prison.

Lowe’s victim had moved to towns to stay away from him and told police she feared Lowe would kill her after bringing a pillow to her face.

Bolton Crown Court also heard that Lowe had previously been jailed for headbutting and punching his girlfriend in the face, and that he was released on the condition that he stay away from her.

Another man, Connor Vickers, 25, from Corby, is facing five years in prison under the new law after strangling his partner in July.

Police said Vickers placed his hands around the victim’s neck and began squeezing, restricting breathing and kicking her weeks after the new law was introduced.

Detective Chief Inspector Reid Martin, of the force’s Vulnerability Unit, said: ‘Family abuse is absolutely a priority for Lincolnshire Police and the perpetrator in this case must receive a sentence. 34 months incarceration sends a strong message to the perpetrator.

‘I hope that the victim in this case feels justice for what they’ve been through.

‘I also hope that this will encourage more victims to reach out and report family abuse.’