Swanley dad jailed at Woolwich Crown Court after trying to suffocate his partner in front of their child

A young father tried to suffocate his partner almost 20 times before attempting to “gouge” her eyes out while their two-year-old son watched.

Matt Satchell left his then-girlfriend believing she “was going to die” during the attack at her home on August 9, 2025.

The wealth manager originally pleaded not guilty to intentional suffocation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in respect to that day last summer.

But two weeks before he was due to stand trial, he changed his plea and was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on March 9.

The pair had got into an argument over messages the victim had found on one of the defendant’s devices, the court heard.

Prosecutor Bethany Hutchinson said: “The defendant dragged the complainant around the room and pinned her to the floor by sitting on her and putting his knees on her arms so she could not move.

“He put his hand over her mouth and pinched her nose so she could not breathe. She would feel like she was going to faint.

“The defendant would stop for a couple of seconds and then do it again.”

She told the court that Satchell, of Cherry Avenue, Swanley, repeated this around 15 to 20 times, and on one occasion, he “bit her nose and tried to gouge her eyes out”.

The 28-year-old, who was 27 at the time, also shouted at his victim, telling her to “shut the f*** up” and calling her a “stupid b****”.

Ms Hutchinson told the court that Satchell also “slapped” his partner, who also had a second child, across the face around five times and, on the final attack, left her head “ringing”.

She explained that during the attack, the couple’s two-year-old son was watching and was close enough that his mother could touch him.

The court was told that the ordeal only ended when the victim accidentally called her brother, who heard her “distressed and screaming”, and called the police before driving to the house.

But when officers arrived at the address, Satchell had jumped over the fence and fled the scene.

He was later arrested in Stone Lodge Road, Stone, and was remanded in custody after making attempts to contact his victim and convince her to drop the charges against him.

‘He told me it would be better if I killed myself. I was so convinced that one day I would be killed’

In a victim impact statement read to the court by Ms Hutchinson, the woman said she “feared for her life” during their relationship.

Speaking about the attack on August 9, she said: “I remember looking into his eyes, hoping he would remember I am the mother of his child.

“Throughout the assault, I believed I was going to die. I remember thinking my two-year-old son might be the last person I would ever see.”

The statement also outlined allegations that the mother-of-two had been abused multiple times by the defendant and claimed he had belittled her and made her feel worthless.

She added: “I felt I had to disappear to survive. He told me it would be better if I killed myself. I was so convinced that one day I would be killed.

“My children have had their childhoods and innocence stolen from them. They have seen so much violence, and that breaks my heart.

“All I wanted was a stable partner and parent, but we lived in constant fear. The impact on our lives is prominent and lasting.”

Recorder Simon Stirling said that while he acknowledged the context of domestic abuse in this case, he was only sentencing Satchell on the two offences from August 9.

Mitigating, Mark Watson told the court that the “appalling” offences “speak for themselves” and made no submissions against them.

However, he explained that although Satchell had a “supportive” mother, he grew up without a father or male role model, which he recognised was an “underlying issue”.

Mr Watson said his client, who has one previous conviction from when he was a juvenile, has completed courses on relationships and family during custody.

References made on behalf of the defendant were also mentioned during the hearing, which Recorder Stirling said spoke “highly” of him.

Satchell was jailed for 36 months for intentional strangulation and 16 months for the assault to be served concurrently.

Recorder Stirling said this took into account a 20% reduction for a guilty plea, and that he would serve half of his sentence before being released on licence.

A restraining order preventing the defendant from contacting his victim directly or through a third party, unless this is the court or social services, was put in place for five years.

It also requires that he not visit any address where he knows the woman is present, or that he leave immediately after learning she is there.

Speaking to KentOnline after the sentencing, his victim said she was relieved her attacker was in HMP Belmarsh and thanked investigating officer, PC Ellie Rose for her support.

In a statement, PC Rose said: “This was a terrifying and sustained attack carried out in front of a young child, and Satchell was completely out of control.

“The victim showed enormous courage in coming forward, despite her understandable fear of reprisals, and I hope this outcome helps her begin to move forward with her life.

“There is never any excuse for domestic abuse. A wealth of support is available for victims, and we work closely with a range of agencies and charities to help people break free from the cycle of abuse.”