A 45-year-old woman from Grimsby has been sentenced to two years in prison for a campaign of violence against her husband, which included stabbing him with an electric toothbrush and repeatedly hitting him with a rolling pin. Helen Thornton was convicted of two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behavior.
Helen Thornton, a 45-year-old woman from Grimsby , was sentenced to two years in prison for a horrific campaign of violence against her husband. Thornton subjected her husband to years of abuse, including stabbing him with an electric toothbrush and repeatedly hitting him with a rolling pin. She was convicted by a jury of two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and a further charge of controlling and coercive behavior.
Judge John Thackray KC, presiding over the sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court, stated that Thornton's actions were particularly egregious due to the breach of trust inherent in a domestic relationship. He emphasized that Thornton's husband deserved to feel safe and secure in his own home.The judge further explained that Thornton's controlling and coercive behavior involved 'instilling fear' in her husband that violence would be used against him. This occurred on at least two occasions between 2016 and last year. Thornton's husband endured abuse and attacks 'almost night after night', forced to live in constant fear of her next outburst. In a particularly disturbing incident in 2018, police were called to the scene after Thornton wounded her husband with the pointy end of an electric toothbrush, resulting in a puncture wound. Despite this, he initially chose not to press charges. On another occasion, in February last year, Thornton launched a violent attack on her husband with a rolling pin, causing significant bruising. During the trial, it was revealed that Thornton threatened to report her husband for fabricated matters that could have jeopardized his employment. This constant threat of false accusations led her husband to start recording incidents as a means of self-protection. He feared that Thornton would make malicious allegations against him, which she had done in the past. Judge Thackray highlighted the severity of the case, stating that Thornton's actions were 'persistent behavior over a long period' that had a 'profound effect upon your victim'. He commended her husband for his courage in reporting Thornton and for bravely giving evidence against her. The judge concluded that the offenses were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, emphasizing that Thornton had abused her husband's love in a 'most grotesque way'. He sentenced her to two years in prison and issued a 10-year restraining order. After the hearing, Thornton's husband, who had been married to her for 19 years, spoke to Grimsby Live, expressing his hope that she would not hurt anyone else. He stated that he had initiated divorce proceedings but they were still legally married.
Domestic Abuse Violence Grimsby UK Sentencing Restraining Order Controlling Behavior
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