A man who throttled his girlfriend until she couldn't breathe and threatened to put her "in a body bag" has been jailed for four years and nine months.
Attack and Threats
Nathan Grant, 33, assaulted the woman by punching her in the ribs, arms and legs before grabbing her by the throat and squeezing until she couldn't breathe. The attack broke her arm. Afterwards, he made terrifying threats over the phone, saying, "I won't stop until one of us is dead" and "I'm going to put you in a body bag".
Grant inflicted the attack while on licence after being released from prison for a previous violent offence.
Ongoing Abuse
The woman disclosed several other assaults to police, including one occasion where he bit her on the nose. Grant was also controlling throughout the relationship. Even after the relationship ended, he continued trying to contact her, including going to her home.
In an impact statement, the woman said Grant's abusive behaviour had affected her both physically and mentally, and she now constantly lived in fear. "I often think about what happened and wonder why I deserved to be treated like that," she said. "The way Nathan treated me made me feel like I was not good enough. I could not understand why he would treat me the way he did so I started to believe that it was normal and that I deserved to be treated like that."
Sentencing
Grant, of Collingwood Road, Long Eaton, admitted two counts of intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour at Derby Crown Court on April 13. On July 20, he was jailed for four years and nine months with a three-year extended sentence for dangerousness. He was also handed a restraining order banning him from having any contact with the woman.
Detective Staff Investigator Lucy Taylor, who led the investigation, said Grant is "clearly a man with a violent temper who did not see the error of his ways despite serving a prison sentence". She added: "I can only imagine how terrified she must have been and how difficult it would have been for her to tell someone what was happening to her. However, she has shown incredible courage to report him and throughout this process and I am grateful for her support as we worked to bring him to justice."
