A Wiltshire man who violently assaulted a woman – including while she was pregnant – has been spared an immediate jail sentence.
Tree surgeon Howard Ingram, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.
On 17 July, Salisbury Crown Court heard how the defendant’s relationship with his girlfriend deteriorated over a period of time – ending in attacks.
Ingram physically tried to remove the woman from his vehicle in July 2023, using a full can of coke to hit her repeatedly in the face, causing a black eye.
During another incident the following month, Ingram grabbed and choked the woman before getting her in a choke-hold causing her to struggle to breathe and eventually lost consciousness.
Amid another disagreement, he punched her to the face multiple times causing a broken nose and other facial injuries.
The assaults continued even when the woman was pregnant, with Ingram pinning her up against a wall before throwing her to the ground.
In a powerful act, the victim read out her statement in court – looking Ingram in the face.
She said: “You destroyed me to have me at your beck and call. You manipulated your friends and family from the day we met to believe I was this awful person so when you allowed me to see your true colours, they would never believe me. You played your smear campaign right from the start.
“As much as it pains me to say, you do deserve whatever punishment comes your way, and this is no longer in my control. But I pray that nobody ever suffers by your hands again. I have come out of this stronger and happier than ever before.
“Yes, I am still recovering and that recovery will take time, perhaps even years. But it can take place inside the loving, safe, happy family that I have around me. If you were to lay your hands on a person – child or woman – more vulnerable than me – I don’t think they’d live to tell the tale.
“If I just walked away from all this without taking action, leaving you free to do the same to someone else, I would never be able to forgive myself.”
The defendant, of North Street, Wilton, was sentenced to a 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also handed a seven-year restraining order.
Local crime investigator Natalie Dalton, of Wiltshire Police, said: “Ingram subjected the woman to a sustained campaign of violence, including strangulation, physical assaults and repeatedly using force against her.
“His actions were controlling, dangerous and completely unacceptable. There is no place in society for offenders like Ingram.
“This case has taken a long time from the point of reporting to the eventual sentencing. The survivor has had to overcome a lot of obstacles in order to support this legal process.
“She has been strong and resilient in the face of terrible circumstances and I can only commend her for her strength and patience.
“Although still recovering from this relationship, her faith, her family and wider support network have helped her to reach this point, and I hope this sentencing also helps provide her with some form of closure.”
