Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Monday 22 September 2025
Michael Cosgrove, 45, had known his partner, Kerry Allan, for a year when he tried to kill her by strangulation.
Ms Allan has spoken publicly about her experience for the first time since he was sentenced.
Cosgrove’s sentence comes as data released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows a record number of charges of strangulation reaching courts since the standalone legislation was introduced three years ago.
In the last recorded three-month period, nearly 2,400 charges were prosecuted by the CPS.
As in Ms Allan’s experience, 9 in every 10 of these charges were linked to domestic abuse.
At the trial, jury members heard how after returning from a night out seeing a band with friends, Ms Allan and Cosgrove got into an argument about him cheating. He proceeded to strangle Ms Allan three times.
Neighbours heard her screams for help and pleas for him to stop. They rang the police and continued to hear them whilst on the phone.
Cosgrove also made repeated threats to kill Ms Allan and then to kill himself which the court heard were designed to make her believe that he was serious. Ms Allan said she believed she was going to die.
The court heard how she tried to escape out the bedroom window, but Cosgrove pulled her back and threw her on the bed, injuring her ribs.
The third time Cosgrove strangled Ms Allan, she was rendered unconscious.
Hearing the bangs and shouts from police officers before their forced entry, Cosgrove fled by jumping out of the bathroom window. He was arrested later that morning after being found in the boot of Ms Allan’s car.
CPS Direct, the Crown Prosecution Service’s out-of-hours charging service, authorised charges overnight against Cosgrove for attempted murder and intentional strangulation, before handing over the case to CPS North West to prosecute.
Bernie Ryan, Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), said:“This case highlights the impact of strangulation on victims and the crucial role the CPS play in ensuring that perpetrators are held to account. We commend CPS efforts in ensuring that there was medical evidence and expert evidence inputted into this case.
“It is important to remember however that not all victims of strangulation have visible injuries; around 50 per cent of people who are strangled will not have visible injuries and this is no indication of the physical and psychological harm strangulation has caused.
“IFAS works to raise awareness of the risks around strangulation including in the context of domestic abuse. We hope to receive further funding so we can continue our work of improving the response victims of strangulation receive.”
During the trial, medical evidence was shown to the jury showing the injuries Cosgrove inflicted on Ms Allan.
Expert evidence was also used to explain to the jury the danger associated with strangulation and the effects it can cause. Dr Ewa Wolska, a forensic physician with expertise in strangulation, gave her opinion that the injuries Ms Allan obtained were from a life-threatening event.
Cosgrove denied ever threatening, assaulting or attempting to kill his then partner.
Following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, a jury found Cosgrove guilty of attempted murder and strangulation.
