A 30-year-old man from Kexby, Gainsborough has been handed a 32-month jail sentence following a series of brutal assaults on his former girlfriend. Identified as Joshua Freestone, the man was penalised for violently assaulting his vulnerable ex-girlfriend numerous times between 2017 and 2019.
Over 15 months of Abuse
Freestone, who resides on High Street, Kexby, appeared before Lincoln Crown Court to face charges pertaining to three counts of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). He had confessed to these offences during his trial in September 2023. The court heard disturbing accounts of a minimum of seven attacks perpetrated over a span of 15 months. The suspect had been living with the victim and his own parents before they moved into her parents' home.
Assault Details
His Honour Judge Simon Hirst relayed, "Over a course of 15 months on the basis of what prosecution accepted, you assaulted the victim on a minimum of seven occasions. Violence included punching her to the side of the face, kicking her in the legs, causing a cut to her eyebrows, throwing bottles of vodka at her and striking her behind the ear."
During the trial, a tragic victim statement was read out in Lincoln Crown Court by prosecuting barrister, Neil Sands. The victim recounted her harrowing experiences in stark detail, expressing her emotional distress.
"There are no words that can describe what he did to me and the damage that was done. I feel utterly broken, there is a piece of me I will never get back. " said the victim, "I will always wish it had been different and I could go back and change it. The only comfort I have is that this process will stop it happening to anyone else because I wouldn't wish what I went through to happen to my worst enemy."
Victim's Lost Opportunities
Prosecution also revealed that the victim had to give up her A-Level studies due to the tormenting and controlling relationship. Furthermore, she suffered further social isolation as she lost friends and could not spend leisure time with them.
Defence Attitude
Defence barrister, Hal Ewing, presented mitigating factors including Freestone's confession, the fact that the offences happened four years ago, and his unhealthy and destructive reliance on drugs and alcohol which fueled altercations in the relationship.
Freestone was sentenced to 32 months in jail. In addition, he was slapped with a restraining order valid for five years.