A property developer appeared in court accused of strangling his wife during a drunken altercation at their £3 million home in Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset. Paul Pressland, 63, is charged with intentional strangulation following an incident on December 1, 2024, which took place amid a dispute over his wife’s decision to file for divorce.

The trial at Salisbury Crown Court heard that Pressland consumed most of a bottle of red wine before a dinner with his wife Gemma Martin’s parents. The couple, who had lived together for about a decade, including raising two of Ms Martin’s children from a previous relationship, were celebrating the in-laws’ visit when tensions escalated.

Ms Martin, 52, testified that after her parents left, Pressland’s mood shifted, becoming argumentative over the divorce filing, which she had based on his alleged infidelity. According to her account, the argument intensified following a confrontation during which she threw a slipper at him. The prosecution alleges that Pressland then physically assaulted Ms Martin, pushing her and striking her multiple times before restraining her against the bathroom door.

Ms Martin described being choked by her husband until she felt she could no longer breathe, with her head spinning and her eyes bulging. She initially told Pressland she would keep the incident confidential if he agreed to grant her a divorce but reported it to the authorities two days later.

Defending counsel Graham Gilbert characterized the incident differently, suggesting Pressland sought to end the argument and retreat to a spare bedroom, but that Ms Martin pursued him and initiated physical aggression. Pressland denies the strangulation charge, maintaining he acted in self-defense.

The prosecution framed the case as one of domestic violence stemming from long-standing relationship issues exacerbated by alcohol and emotional distress. The trial is ongoing.