ANDREW WARD

Andrew Ward, a resident of Grove near Wantage, carried out a series of brutal attacks against his former partner over their nine-year relationship.

During a trial at Oxford Crown Court, it was revealed that the 35-year-old exhibited behaviors described as ‘jealous, possessive, and controlling,’ which led to violent outbursts.

The woman testified that she felt too frightened and ashamed to report her injuries immediately to medical professionals.

One of the earliest incidents occurred in 2012 when Ward kicked her in the ribs while she was straightening her hair.

She later sought medical help after experiencing a collapse-inducing pain.

In a later incident, Ward entered her house during the early hours to check her phone—a Typical behavior he maintained throughout their relationship.

When he discovered a message, he reacted angrily, grabbing the TV remote and attempting to harm her with it.

She recounted that he then forcibly dragged her across the room, resulting in bleeding, which she had to clean with baby wipes and soothe in a warm bath.

Additional assaults included pushing her into a wall causing her to fall and throwing a dog bowl at her while she was seated on the sofa.

In 2019, Ward grabbed her by the neck and threw her onto the floor, kicking her repeatedly until she pleaded for him to stop due to an unusual sensation in her arm.

He told her she ‘deserved’ the assault and commented that her arm was likely broken and needed fixing.

Her injuries in that incident involved a fractured wrist, foot, and ankle, which she falsely claimed were caused by playing with her dog.

On July 3, 2020, Ward forcibly ejected her from their home over a dispute about her playing a mobile game.

Neighbors called police, leading to his arrest.

The day after his release, he sent her a threatening Facebook message, insisting they meet or he would ‘kill the s*** out of her.’ This resulted in a face-to-face meeting where he handed her soiled laundry.

She reported the threats to police and sought protection, revealing that Ward monitored her social media activity and controlled her movements, demanding permission to leave the house.

Warrants and charges led to him being remanded in custody in 2020.

Following a trial, Ward was convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent under Section 18 and three counts of actual bodily harm.

He also previously admitted to assault and possession of cocaine.

It was further disclosed that in 2010, he had caused injuries to another partner by throwing a clothes horse, resulting in puncture wounds to her neck and oesophagus.

Today, Ward received a ten-year prison sentence with an extended three-year license.

He is classified as a dangerous offender, requiring him to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Detective Sergeant Neil Anns of the DAIU commented, ‘This is among the most severe domestic abuse cases I have encountered, and Ward’s lengthy sentence reflects that.

The victim’s bravery in coming forward was crucial, and the support from witnesses and partner agencies contributed to this conviction.

We urge anyone in similar circumstances to seek help, as we are committed to protecting victims.’