A 20-year-old woman from Birmingham has admitted to strangling her boyfriend in a hotel room in what has been described as an unprovoked attack. Mikayla Gumbs appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on July 23 for sentencing after the incident on May 30.
According to court reports, Gumbs squeezed her ex-partner’s neck so forcefully that he suffered significant neck pain. Prosecutors stated that the attack occurred inside a hotel room in the city and was sudden and without provocation. The victim described the event as a quick, unexpected assault with Gumbs’ hand wrapping around his neck while his back was turned.
However, the length of the strangulation is disputed. The victim claimed the attack lasted about five minutes, causing considerable distress and pain, whereas Gumbs maintains it only lasted a matter of seconds. This discrepancy led District Judge Michelle Smith to delay sentencing to allow time for clarification, as the duration of the attack could heavily influence the severity of the sentence.
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Gumbs pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation but contested the prosecution’s claim regarding the length of time involved. She denies the attack lasting as long as five minutes but accepts most other details of the victim’s account. Her defense lawyer emphasized that the attack was brief rather than prolonged.
Following the incident, the victim was treated at a hospital and chose not to have Gumbs remain with him. He later reported the attack to West Midlands Police. Gumbs, who has no prior criminal record and resides on James Watt Drive in Birmingham, was granted conditional bail with an order prohibiting contact with the victim.
Judge Smith instructed Gumbs on the importance of attending the upcoming hearing on August 14, where the court will determine the disputed facts before proceeding with sentencing. She warned that failure to attend could result in the case moving forward without her presence.