Marc Challener, 46, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after punching his girlfriend Danielle Wilkes in the face, rendering her unconscious, and later strangling her. When police arrived, he instructed her to blame the attack on their dog. The incidents occurred in February 2026 at Wilkes' home in Pelsall, near Walsall, and were heard at Wolverhampton Crown Court on July 22, 2026.
Unprovoked Attack and Attempt to Cover Up
On February 6, 2026, Challener accused Wilkes of cheating during an argument. He became verbally abusive, and when she threatened to call the police, he punched her once in the face with such force that she lost consciousness. Prosecutor Samuel Leach told the court: "Such was the force of the punch that it rendered her unconscious." A nearby resident heard the commotion and alerted officers.
When Wilkes regained consciousness, Challener told her not to open the door and to "blame the dog." She was bleeding from her ear and her eye was swollen shut. In fear, she told police she had tripped over the dog, and the officers left without further action.
Second Assault and Threats
Two days later, another row erupted. Challener pinned Wilkes down, put his hands around her neck, and threatened to kill her. He only released her when she dug her nails into him. During police interview, Challener claimed Wilkes had hurt herself and denied strangling her.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Wilkes said she suffered flashbacks and feared Challener would return to hurt her. She added: "Since the incident, my memory has not been as good as before."
Court Details and Judge's Remarks
Challener had previous convictions for shoplifting, threatening behaviour, burglary, and theft. Defence counsel Shehraz Hussain said the probation service deemed Challener "cannot be managed within the community," making imprisonment the only option. Initially, Challener struggled to accept responsibility but later expressed remorse.
The court heard that Challener had stayed out of trouble from 2003 until early 2026, when a relapse into heroin and crack cocaine use triggered his violent behaviour. The relapse was linked to stress over his grandmother's hospitalisation – she nearly died and is now bedridden. Hussain noted: "There is a very strong likelihood that by the time he is released from custody his grandmother may no longer be here." While in custody, Challener has been on a methadone script and is motivated to stay off drugs.
District Judge Qureshi, sentencing via video link, condemned the first attack: "When people lose consciousness, nobody knows when and if they will recover consciousness. She did, and your response was to tell her not to go out of the house. You knew she was bleeding from the ear – that's always a sign of a very serious injury." Regarding the strangulation, the judge added: "You had the audacity to suggest you were going to report her when she was acting in self-defence." The probation team expressed concern about Challener's escalating violent behaviour in relationships and his lack of a permanent address.
Sentence and Restraining Order
Challener, of no fixed abode, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation on the day of his trial. He appeared from HMP Birmingham via video link, nodding as he was jailed for 30 months. A 10-year restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting him from contacting Wilkes or entering her address.
