Man who subjected his ex-partner to numerous offences jailed for 22 years

Over nine years of their relationship a Leicester woman was subjected to extreme levels of abuse and controlling behaviour by her ex-partner who has since been jailed for his actions.

On Monday (13 January) the defendant appeared at Leicester Crown Court for sentencing after previously being found guilty of 15 offences.

In March last year the victim split up from the defendant. Following that, he started to stalk her and would turn up unannounced at her home, where she lived with their three young children, at all times of the day and night.

He would drive by her address and sit and listen at her letter box to what was going on inside her address. He also called her and sent her numerous text messages daily asking where she was, who she was with and what she was doing.

The victim realised she was not going to escape him; his obsession was becoming more intense, and she feared for her safety.

She contacted the force in May last year to report the stalking offences, and also disclosed – for the first time – that she has been subjected to a number of offences during their nine-and-a-half-year relationship.

During the trial in November last year the court heard how the defendant assaulted the victim in the Summer of 2017 and hit her on the knee with a guitar, splitting her knee open.

In January 2018, while the victim was pregnant, the defendant squirted liquid soap into her mouth 11 times and made her swallow it.

He then dragged her across the floor, stripped her naked and tied her to the radiator with a dressing gown cord. He held the back of her head and hit her in the face 13 times. He left her there, tied up and unable to move for two days. Every time he went past, he would kick her and spit on her. She eventually started to bleed and she told him she was going to lose the baby, so he untied her. But he didn't allow her to go to hospital.

In November 2019 he demanded oral sex from the victim which she refused - at the time she had a young baby and she was holding their daughter when he hit her.  As part of this attack, he pulled her leggings off and attacked her intimately with his hands, leaving her with extensive damage. She was in immense pain and was bleeding heavily. He continued to hit her on the head, smashing it into the wall. She tried to crawl away, with her daughter in her arms.

In June 2020 the victim was woken up in the middle of the night by the defendant banging on the front door, she opened it and was punched in the face. He dragged her upstairs by her hair, punching her. He put her on the bed and hit her, bit her and strangled her until she passed out.

He told her to say goodbye to the kids and pinned her to the bed and pushed his fingers and thumbs into her eyes. He forced her to give him oral sex and then forced himself on top of her, raping her.

In February 2021 when the victim was heavily pregnant with their third child, the defendant pushed her down the stairs. He put his nails in her eyes and continued to hit and strangle her. The neighbours called the police, and he was arrested.

The defendant was arrested following that assault, but the victim refused to support the case, and the report was filed.

In May 2024, after the victim disclosed everything she had been subjected to, the defendant was arrested and charged with false imprisonment, sexual assault, stalking, two counts of coercive and controlling behaviour, two counts of rape and eight counts of assault.

On Monday (13 January) he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Upon release, he will be required to serve an additional three years on licence.

Detective Constable Nathan Martin from the Signal unit – the force’s rape and serious sexual violence team – was the investigating officer.  He said: “This was a horrific case and the true extent of everything the victim was subjected to only came to light when she felt she had no escape from the defendant.

“For her and her children’s safety she finally found the courage to report everything she had been subjected to at the hands of the defendant.  Reliving the truly horrifying incidents has been in no way easy for her.

“In all my years as a police officer this is one of the most disturbing cases I have come across.  The level of violence was on another level – the defendant was determined to control the victim and had no regard for her mental or physical state.

“We are pleased he was found guilty of all the offences and the sentence imposed this week clearly shows the seriousness of his actions.

“We know its not easy to come forward and report what’s happening to you, especially when there are young children involved.  Please be assured that your concerns will be listened to, and we will work with you and support you through the process.  We can also put you in touch with numerous support agencies who can help you further.”

• There are a number of different agencies who are able to offer independent help and support to victims of sexual offences in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
• Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences
• If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you can also contact Juniper Lodge – a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – by phoning 0116 273 3330 or visiting https://juniperlodge.org.uk/
• You can also find your nearest SARC by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health-services/find-a-rape-and-sexual-assault-referral-centre