A man who choked his partner laughed at her when she thought she was about to have an asthma attack.
Jonathan Lee Saunders, 33, was in a caravan in Whanganui with his girlfriend of three months on July 22, the Whanganui District Court heard on Tuesday.
The victim was holding a small heater, because it was a cold day, and Saunders launched himself at her, grabbing the heater.
He then grabbed the victim by the throat and held her down on the bed.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Willemsen told the court the victim struggled to breathe, and felt an asthma attack coming on.