YOUNG WOMAN HELD HOSTAGE AND RAPED BY WIGAN MAN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS
A man who inflicted months of coercive control and sexual assault upon his partner has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, with a further five-year license period after release.Michael Ball, born on October 5, 1994, residing on Beechwood Crescent in Leigh, was found guilty of four counts of rape and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour involving two victims.
He is subject to a restraining order and will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
At Bolton Crown Court in September, the jury heard details of Ball’s behaviour from October 2020 to January 2021.
During this time, he exerted near-total control over Jasmin, his partner, dictating her clothing, calling her derogatory names if her attire displeased him, and alienating her from her family and friends who had expressed concern.
His oppressive tactics included constant surveillance of her movements, prohibiting her from social outings, and forcing her to leave her job as a carer.
Ball also engaged in financial abuse by taking loans out in her name and accessing her bank accounts without her consent.
She was instructed to remain upstairs when guests visited, with Ball informing them she was not available to prevent them from talking to her.
Over the course of the relationship, Jasmin suffered repeated assaults, with bruises often visible.
The case also revealed that Ball strangled Jasmin multiple times.
One particularly troubling incident involved him trying to choke her with a dressing gown cord.
In January 2021, the abuse shifted to include sexual violence.
Jasmin described refusing Ball’s drunken sexual advances, only to wake later and find herself raped.
Afraid to report him due to previous threats of killing her, she felt unable to resist his assault.
Police apprehended Ball on 19 January 2021.
During interrogation, he denied the accusations.
He faced charges of five counts of rape, control and coercion, and a Section 47 assault.
Additionally, the court convicted him for two counts of rape relating to another victim from Lancashire.
