A man has been jailed after forcing his way into his ex-partner’s home near Bradford on Avon before violently assaulting and strangling her.
Joshua Cain, 38, admitted intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage following the attack on 5 May.
Swindon Crown Court heard how Cain repeatedly phoned his former partner that morning, making threats before breaking into her home.
Once inside, he grabbed her by the wrist and throat while continuing to threaten her.
He then searched through the victim’s phone before repeatedly slapping her across the face. Cain dragged her across the kitchen and strangled her against a wall, leaving her fearing for her life.
While Cain was distracted by her phone, the victim managed to contact a colleague, who immediately called police.
When officers arrived, he jumped from an upstairs window and fled. A foot chase followed before he was arrested in a nearby field.
In a personal statement read to the court, the victim described the lasting impact the attack has had on her.
She said: “Since the offence, I have felt anxious and on edge. I have been unable to sleep properly. I wake several times a night, often not being able to fall back to sleep at all.
“My usual routine has fallen apart. I was a regular gym goer but have not been since and don’t feel I can go now. I don’t walk my dog on my own anymore and if there is no one to go with me then I don’t walk her at all.
“I replay the events of that morning in my head a lot. I am plagued with feelings of shame and embarrassment. I have lost my confidence, and retreated into myself. I feel guilty to go out and enjoy myself. I feel shame that someone I loved wanted to hurt me.”
Cain, of Brassmill Lane, Newbridge, was jailed for two years at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday (23 July). The court also imposed a five-year restraining order.
Local Crime Investigator Shonna O’Harney said: “This must have been an incredibly frightening and traumatic incident for the victim in her home, no doubt impacting the feeling of security which you should be able to have at home.
“I want to pay tribute to her for coming forward and reporting the abuse to the police.
“She has then shown immense strength throughout the process to bring about this sentencing.”
She added: “We take these reports very seriously and we will always act robustly to bring domestic abuse perpetrators before the courts.
“If you are experiencing any form of domestic abuse, please come forward.”
