MAN JAILED FOR ASSAULT ON EX-PARTNER
A man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after assaulting his ex-partner while she was sleeping in her bed.Lewis Bland, aged 34, caused the woman to fear for her safety when he attacked her at a property in Brackley, Northamptonshire, in September 2023, according to police reports.
The woman woke up to find Bland covering her mouth with one hand and pinching her nose with the other, while holding her down on the bed.
In February, a jury at Northampton Crown Court cleared Bland of attempted murder but convicted him of assault resulting in actual bodily harm.
Northamptonshire Police commended the woman for her bravery and emphasised that addressing violence against women and girls remains a priority.
The assault took place during the early hours of 11 September at the couple’s residence on Helene Close.
Earlier that month, officers had responded to their home after Bland exhibited violent behavior toward the woman for the first time.
As a result, their relationship ended, but on 10 September, the woman returned home from a work trip to find Bland present in their shared flat.
She felt unable to ask him to leave because both were on the lease.
That night, she awoke to find Bland attempting to suffocate her.
She managed to escape to the en-suite bathroom but was left trapped without her phone to call for help.
When she exited the bathroom, she found Bland bleeding from his legs and holding a knife.
She fled to a neighbor’s house, who then called the police.
Bland was also ordered to stay away from the woman for eight years following his sentencing last month.
Detective Constable Stacey Hill from the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit stated, “Lewis Bland inflicted a terrifying assault on his former partner, causing her genuine fear for her life.
Her bravery in ending their relationship, fighting him off, and supporting the investigation through trial has ensured he is rightly imprisoned.
No one should have to live in fear of someone who claims to love them.
If you experience any form of abuse, please report it to law enforcement.”
