Wayne Worthington, 44, has avoided jailed for the horrifying attack at the Premier Inn
stokesentinel Administrator
06:00, 30 Jan 2026
Wayne Worthington
Drunken Wayne Worthington punched, kicked and strangled his partner in a hotel room. The 44-year-old was unhappy about the time she took to get back to The Premier Inn at Trentham and when inside the room he assaulted her.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he grabbed her throat and squeezed with both hands, restricting her breathing. He then punched her to the face and kicked her while she was on the floor, leaving her fearing she was going to die. Now Worthington has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Prosecutor Barry White said the victim went to a festival at Trentham Gardens on October 7, 2023. He said she and the defendant had separated in April of that year. But they met on the day and arranged to stay at the Premier Inn.
When she arrived with a pizza he was in reception and they went to the room. Mr White said: “He was upset she was not quicker getting to the hotel. He put his hands around her throat and started to squeeze. She was punched to the left side of her face. She was left with bruising and swelling and was light-headed. He kicked her multiple times to her lower back.
The defendant assaulted and strangled his victim in a room at The Premier Inn, Trentham.
“He accused her of having ruined his life. She was terrified. She had bruising to her back and face, swelling to her face, reddening to her shoulder and neck and scratches to her arm.”
In a victim impact statement the woman said: “I believed I was going to die. He is a very strong, big build. He could have ended my life. I reflect on this every single day. I could have died.”
The court heard the victim works as an opera singer and lost out financially as she had to miss three cruises. She added: “I was physically, emotionally and psychologically abused by him.”
Worthington, of Somerville Avenue, May Bank, denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation but was convicted after a trial at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
Martin Bloor, mitigating, said Worthington was remorseful and regrets the incident. Mr Bloor said: “He has no previous convictions prior to these offences. In the two years that have passed since these offences took place he has not committed any further offences.
“He is somebody who does not need some support and help in addressing issues such as alcohol intake and how he deals with breakdowns of relationships and stressful situations.”
As part of the suspended sentence Worthington must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days, a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement and 250 hours unpaid work. He was made the subject of a restraining order which prevents him having any contact with his victim for 10 years. And he must pay her £2,000 compensation.
Judge Richard McConaghy said: “In October 2023 you went to the Premier Inn at Trentham. You were with your victim. You had been in an on-off relationship with her for three years or so. You became angry over the time it had taken for her to return to the hotel. You were drunk. You grabbed her around the throat and squeezed with both hands, restricting her breathing. You punched her to the face, knocking her to the floor and kicked her while on the floor.
“You are a very big strong man and she feared she was going to die at your hands. It is aggravated by the fact you were drunk and this took place in a domestic context.
“I have a stark choice. Either I send you immediately to prison or I take the view that the work which can be done with you by probation can lead towards you not offending in this way towards another partner in the future. It is a very fine balancing exercise in your case.”
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