A MAN who strangled an 87-year-old woman because she didn’t buy him more alcohol was spared jail.

Rodney Eldridge, 57, committed the offence in The Pines, Wickford, during a drunken tirade on June 16 this year.

In the evening, he got into an argument with the victim as she refused to buy him more alcohol.

Eldridge began shouting and whilst the victim was sitting down, he wrapped bedsheets around her neck and chocked her for ‘five to ten’ seconds.

The defendant was charged with intentional strangulation and appeared in Basildon Crown Court for sentencing.

Joe O’Leary, prosecuting, said: “Police were called and arrived at 7.16pm to the Wickford address.

“The victim said she was ‘terrified’ but did not want the defendant to get into trouble.

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“Mr Eldridge was interviewed the next day and made a full admission. The defendant said he had started drinking again and the victim was ‘driving him mad’.

“He added he ‘did not do it for long’ and he just wanted to ‘frighten’ her.”

Eldridge was described as drinking ‘gargantuan’ levels of alcohol, sometimes consuming three bottles of vodka in a day.

Kevin Toomey, mitigating, said: “Mr Eldridge had not been drinking in the seven months leading to the incident and has been sober for the past 19 days.

“His alcohol problems started 30 years ago when he was a professional boxer and his wife died.

“Many men including himself felt they were not in a position to ask for help at the time and he couldn’t cope with the grief.

“Mr Eldridge’s next relationship broke down because of alcohol as well, he has four daughters and six grandchildren with one more on the way.”

Mr Toomey added that now Eldridge has been ‘scared stiff’ and there is a ‘great belief’ he can stay alcohol free with support.

Judge Ian Graham said: “This offence is one clearly out of character and borne in my mind is the victim’s attitude to what has happened.

“The conclusion I have come to is this offence must be marked by a prison sentence.”

Eldridge was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months and given a 12 month mental health treatment requirement under St Andrew’s Healthcare.

He was also given 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and is required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.