Sandbanks Developer Charged with Strangling Wife After Divorce Filing, Court Hears

A property developer from Sandbanks faces serious charges after allegedly strangling his wife during a drunken confrontation following a family dinner. The trial of Paul Pressland, aged 63, unfolded at Salisbury Crown Court, where the prosecution described the incident that occurred on December 1, 2024, at their home in Dorset.

During an evening meal with his wife, Gemma Martin, 52, and her parents, Pressland reportedly consumed nearly a bottle of red wine. Tension escalated following the departure of their guests when Pressland confronted Martin about her divorce filing, which he learned of through a mutual friend.

The argument reportedly heated up when Martin, citing Pressland’s unfaithfulness, threw a slipper at him. Prosecutors asserted that Pressland responded violently, pinning her against the bathroom door and allegedly strangling her to the point where she feared for her life.

It is alleged that he wrapped his hands around her throat, squeezing until her eyes bulged before she collapsed. After the incident, Martin, an interior designer, initially decided to keep the matter private but eventually reported it to the police two days later after playing tennis with her son.

Paul Pressland is accused of strangling his wife, leaving her in fear during a dispute at their home in December 2024.

Martin claimed she suffered bruises and marks from the altercation, prompting her to change the locks of their £3 million harborside residence while Pressland was away. He has denied the charge of intentional strangulation, asserting that he acted in self-defense.

The couple had a decade-long relationship but had been married for only two years. Martin had expressed her intention to divorce Pressland but had not informed him of the filing, which was based on his alleged adultery.

According to Martin, the evening began pleasantly, with family members in high spirits. However, after her parents left around 8:30 PM, Pressland became moody and agitated, leading to a confrontation that quickly escalated. She described how Pressland’s demeanor shifted from light-hearted to confrontational following the dinner.

During the dispute, Martin detailed feeling overpowered as Pressland allegedly assaulted her, claiming he struck her in the ribs before eventually choking her. After being released, she experienced a panic attack and called for help, with her two sons witnessing the aftermath.

When she spoke to Pressland the following day, she demanded a divorce, asserting he had tried to strangle her. Pressland’s defense contends that Martin was the initial aggressor, alleging she had attacked him during the altercation. This version of events has been vehemently denied by Martin.

The trial is ongoing, as both sides present their cases regarding the volatile escalation of this domestic incident.