Compton strangler Christopher Flynn caught stalking his victim in defiance of court order

A MAN who strangled a woman until she was moments from death has been caught stalking her.

But this time, the state of the nation’s overcrowded prisons was not enough to save him from being locked up.

Back in the dock at Reading Crown Court on Friday, March 7, was Christopher Flynn.

Last November the 53-year-old, of Wilson Close in Compton, was given a suspended sentence for the brutal attack on Elaine Dyson, his partner at the time.

He had grabbed her by the neck and smashed her head into a kitchen table.

Flynn had then twisted a tea towel round her neck from behind and pulled it tight, strangling her until she lost control of her bladder.

He also has convictions for 25 other previous offences, including assaults causing actual bodily harm, harassment, drink-driving and breaching restraining orders.

Imposing the suspended sentence at the time, Judge Neil Millard said: “I note that it only takes a few seconds for a person to lose control of their bladder because of the effect of lack of oxygen on the brain.

“A few seconds more and they lose consciousness; a few seconds after that and there’s a risk of death.

“That’s why strangulation is such a serious offence.”

Nevertheless he said he would suspend the inevitable prison sentence because Flynn had spent so long in custody already and because prisons were overcrowded.

In addition, the court had been told by Flynn’s defence counsel there was a realistic possibility of rehabilitation in his case.

But at Friday’s hearing Shaan Sethi, prosecuting, said Flynn had breached the order by contacting Ms Dyson and by hanging around outside her home.

She had spotted him and had fled, terrified.

Flynn interrupted proceedings several times by barking “no” as the evidence against him was read.

In addition, the court heard, he had been caught drink-driving in breach of the order.

Tests showed 49mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Bethan Chichester, defending, said her client had struggled with alcoholism from a young age and had been trying to stay sober.

Judge Rachel Drake said: “This was the second breach of the restraining order; a deliberate breach.

“This is not a defendant who doesn’t get the message just after a relationship breakdown – it has moved on, which makes it quite concerning.

“These were really quite unpleasant offences against Ms Dyson… non fatal strangulation is a gravely serious offence.

“The court gave you a chance to demonstrate you wanted to put that offending behind you.

“You committed, not one, but two different offences and you have a very unhappy history of drink-driving and driving offences.”

Flynn was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, half of which will be served behind bars and the remainder on licence in the community.

In addition, he was banned from driving for four years.

A restraining order to protect Ms Dyson from him remains in place.