Overview
- The assault took place during a child contact exchange on May 7, 2023 when Matthew Mills lunged at his ex-partner, threatened to kill her and briefly strangled her.
- Mills pleaded guilty at North Staffordshire Justice Centre and was handed a two-year community order requiring 20 rehabilitation days and 60 days unpaid work.
- The judge also made a two-year restraining order and ordered Mills to pay £514 in costs as part of the sentence.
- In court the victim said her throat was left sore and tender and that she has sought therapy for ongoing anxiety while the defence said Mills is remorseful and is working with probation on anger management.
- The case highlights how routine child contact exchanges can turn violent and signals that courts may pair unpaid work and rehab requirements with protective orders to address harm and reduce repeat risk.