'SHE WAS WALKING ON EGGSHELLS' - COERCIVE CONTROLLER'S THREE-YEAR ABUSE CAMPAIGN ENDS WITH TERRIFYING KNIFE THREAT
A man named Damon Wilson has been incarcerated following a three-year period marked by abusive behavior towards his former girlfriend.The victim detailed how Wilson, who was known to wear a marijuana T-shirt, subjected her to various forms of violence, including strangulation, hitting her with a hockey stick, and threatening to slit her and her family’s throats.
Their relationship spanned about five years, with the abuse intensifying two years in.
The woman recounted several instances where Wilson grabbed her hair, covered her mouth to prevent her from shouting, and physically assaulted her repeatedly.
He would threaten to kill her if she chose to leave and would sometimes tell her she could go, creating confusion.
Regularly, he would pin her down and choke her, and these acts became more severe after their child was born.
Wilson’s mother also testified that he assaulted her publicly and attempted to isolate her from her family, making her believe everyone was against her.
On August 26 of the previous year, an argument at her sister’s house over her smoking a cigarette turned violent when Wilson tried to snatch the cigarette and then restrained her on the sofa, wrapping his arm around her neck.
He then kneeled on her face, causing noticeable injuries, and threatened to slit her throat.
Subsequently, he followed her outside with a kitchen knife, promising to kill her and her relatives if she did not comply.
Following his arrest, Wilson confessed to police that he had fallen on top of the woman during the incident.
He admitted to controlling and coercive behavior, assault causing bodily harm, strangulation, and carrying a bladed weapon, although he only had a prior caution related to malicious communications.
During mitigation, a psychiatric report revealed he was born in South Africa and had a tumultuous childhood, witnessing violent deaths and losing his mother to an overdose.
The report indicated that Wilson might have a mild learning disability and difficulty understanding others’ perspectives, making emotional management challenging.
Judge Burn sentenced him to two years and four months in prison, describing the case as involving frightening violence, culminating in threats to slit the victim’s and her family’s throats with a knife.
