A vile boyfriend who harassed and assaulted his girlfriend has been jailed (Image: Derbyshire Constabulary)
A vile man who inflicted continued abuse on his partner and threatened to put her “in a body bag” has been jailed. Police were alerted to the horrifying incident after Nathan Grant, 33, who was previously imprisoned for violence, assaulted a 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 and Grant made terrifying threats over the phone afterwards, 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 vicious attack when he was on licence after being released from prison for a previous violent offence.
The woman then disclosed several other assaults to police including one occasion where he bit her on the nose. Grant was also controlling towards her throughout the relationship, she said. Even after the relationship ended, he continued trying to contact her, including going to her home, the victim added.
The woman said Grant’s abusive behaviour had affected her both physically and mentally in an impact statement, and she now constantly lived in fear.
“I often think about what happened and wonder why I deserved to be treated like that. The way Nathan treated me made me feel like I was not good enough,” she said.
“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.
“The relationship was a whirlwind, no matter what I was doing it was not good enough for him, he would constantly name call me and put me down. This has now affected my confidence as I feel like I hate myself.
“I do not feel like I will ever be able to rebuild my confidence and go and meet someone new. I feel like I am still constantly looking over my shoulder and living in fear. I feel like I am having to build myself back up.
“I am definitely not there yet and I am not the person I was before my relationship with Nathan. I feel like the relationship has changed me and I don’t feel like I will ever be the person I was before.”
Grant was arrested in Nottinghamshire the day after he broke the woman’s arm, and subsequently charged and remanded in custody.
The man, 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.
For sentencing 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 continued: “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.
“I’d encourage anyone who is experiencing any kind of domestic abuse to please come forward and report it. We will listen without judgement and support you throughout.”
If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is, there are a number of ways you can report your concerns. You can phone police on 101, or report crime via police websites.
The 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline can be reached on 0808 2000 247 for support and guidance.