A controlling partner is behind bars after a shocking trail of violence on his partner which left her feeling worthless. Ben Nurse, of Park Avenue West, Keyworth, was handed a jail sentence of 27 months and a 10-year restaining order to keep him away from her.
The woman's relationship with Nurse was "filled with violence towards her", fuelled by drink and drugs and his insecurities, said Lucy Jones, prosecuting. Their relationship started quickly in January 2022, with the woman describing him as "perfect" - but things rapidly deteroriated.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Nurse, who has a roofing business, attacked her, then began to cry, but she went back to him. "There were many occasions of violence throughout their relationship, so many she struggled to remember them all", said Miss Jones.
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"She stated, 'I almost always have a black eye', so much so, she stopped having face calls with her mother in case her mother detected them". Another incident the court was told about was a wounding offence where Nurse grabbed her by her hair and dragged her around the living room.
Nurse threw glasses around the room and punched her in the face - he was wearing a heavy ring at the time - and she was left bleeding heavily. "But it was the defendant who began to cry again," said Miss Jones on Wednesday (February 1).
The woman still bears a scar from the blow Nurse delivered above her right eyebrow. The latest incident was after they found out she was pregnant with his twins.
He accused her of cheating on him - but she told him not to be paranoid and stop drinking. He spat in her face - the spit landed in her hair - and he poured a drink over her.
He jumped on her, grabbed her neck and punched her repeatedly. Again, he was the one crying, the court heard, even though she was the one covered in blood, with bruising to her eyes and a cut nose.
As well as the violent assaults, Nurse constantly rang her, and smashed her phone, and threatened to kill her. She stated he made her feel worthless, and "I'm at my lowest point".
"I'm scared of ending up in hospital again or dead," she said in a court statement. Nurse pleaded guilty to all charges which were: Using controlling behaviour, assault causing bodily harm on two occasions, assault, unlawful wounding.
Judge William Harbage, King's Counsel, said: "During the relationship the emotional abuse was incessant".
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