Wakefield thug 'destroyed' woman in sickening assault witnessed by horrified onlookers
Judge labelled him a bully and an abuser
A thug attacked his partner on a night out with such brutality that one shocked witness said the victim was left “destroyed”.
Nicholas Ward, who has a history of violence, punched the victim and stamped on her face in front of others and leaving her covered in blood, Leeds Crown Court heard.
The 33-year-old was jailed after admitting ABH. He also admitted charges of strangulation from another incident, and stalking with a fear of violence after he continued to attend her address and make threats.
Prosecutor Lea Levine said the pair had been in a relationship for around four years, which was described as “turbulent”.
In June last year they had travelled to Newcastle to celebrate her birthday. While out drinking they got into an argument and Ward turned violent.
He punched her several times and stamped on her face. Members of the public came to her assistance. She did not seek medical treatment but suspected her nose was broken.
The witness later said she was covered in blood and her eye was almost closed, saying she had been “destroyed”.
Six months later on December 18, they got into an argument and at the top of the stairs he grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the banister.
She had to hold on to stop her from toppling over onto the stairs. He threatened to let go of her and kill her, Ms Levine said.
She ended the relationship on January 15, but Ward continued to turn up at her Pontefract home, banging on the door and shouting abuse.
He sent her a “torrent” of emails from three different accounts and called her hundreds of times.
He made threats to burn down her house.
Ward even contacted her family members when she refused to speak with him. He even chillingly told her brother: “I will never give up.”
Ward, who appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, has 11 previous convictions for 21 offences, including assaults of emergency workers, battery, harassment and threatening behaviour.
Mitigating, Oliver Kilvington said there had been a “legitimate relationship” but he used alcohol as a coping mechanism.
He said Ward’s father died of alcohol-related issues at the age of 33, the age which Ward has now reached and that he wants to tackle the problem “head on”.
Mr Kilvington said that Ward, of Fitzwilliam Street, Kinsley, was a father-of-four who had difficulties with impulsive behaviour.
The judge, Recorder Ruwena Khan described Ward’s behaviour as “abhorrent” and told him: “Your behaviour was that of a bully and an abuser.
“It’s a pattern of behaviour from someone who is not really learning from their mistakes.”
She jailed him for five years and put in a 10-year restraining order to keep him away from the woman.