A man from Cornwall has been sentenced to three years behind bars for a horrific campaign of domestic violence against his partner, which included strangling her the day after she gave birth via Caesarean section.
A Campaign of Terror During Pregnancy and After Birth
Brandon-Lee Chambers, 28, from Falmouth, subjected his victim to a six-month ordeal of controlling, coercive, and violent behaviour between January and June 2023. The abuse escalated during her pregnancy and continued after the birth of their child.
The court heard that when his partner was five months pregnant, Chambers put his hands around her neck and pushed her against a kitchen sink unit at her home in the Redruth area. In a particularly cruel act, the day after she underwent a Caesarean section, he lifted her by the neck and strangled her again as she was trying to recover.
Chilling Audio Recording Captures Vile Threats
A distressing audio recording, shared by the victim, laid bare the terrifying reality of her life with Chambers. The clip captures the moment he jammed her arm in a door, causing her significant pain.
On the recording, Chambers can be heard screaming abuse and making repeated death threats. "One more f****** moan out of you and I swear to God I'm gonna kill you," he rages. His victim is heard sobbing, pleading "Why are you doing this to me? Don't lock me in," and telling him he is scaring both her and their baby.
The violence was so severe on this occasion that the injury to her arm left her unable to hold her newborn baby for breastfeeding.
Sentencing and the Judge's Condemnation
Chambers eventually pleaded guilty at Truro Crown Court to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour, one of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one of intentional strangulation.
Sentencing him to 36 months in prison at a hearing on Friday, January 9, His Honour Judge James Adkin stated that Chambers had an "entrenched history of domestic abuse" and that his victim was vulnerable. The judge noted that Chambers had assaulted her just to film her reaction and that she would need therapy to recover.
Chambers will serve half of his three-year sentence before being released on licence. Judge Adkin also imposed a restraining order, banning him from contacting his victim or going to a specific address in Redruth for seven years.
The brave victim finally reported the abuse to Devon and Cornwall Police, leading to Chambers' arrest and subsequent conviction, bringing a measure of justice after months of terror.
