MAN ATTACKED GIRLFRIEND AFTER FALLOUT AT THE GYM
A court has heard how Nathan Lawrence, a 23-year-old who recorded himself abusing a woman in a violent attack, later accused the victim of provoking the incident.The incident occurred about a week prior to Christmas, following an argument between Lawrence and his girlfriend after they visited a gym.
During the hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, it was revealed that Lawrence caused upset by making a remark about another woman.
The situation worsened while driving his girlfriend back to his aunt’s house in Maldon, during which he began speeding and stated, “If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already.” Lawrence, who had been disqualified from driving the previous year for drug-related offences on the A120, then took his girlfriend into his aunt’s residence, seized her phone, and locked her inside.
He told her: “You’re mine and I am never going to let you go.” Subsequently, he subjected her to extended violence, including strangulation and the tearing out of an earring.
Prosecutor Wahajat Sherwani explained that Lawrence also pulled out a handful of her hair and threw her across the house while filming her on his phone.
When she tried to stand and retrieve her phone, he kicked her to the ground.
The victim managed to escape to a neighbor’s house, who then contacted police.
Lawrence, from Goring Road, Colchester, pleaded guilty to charges of actual bodily harm, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
Initially denying the charges in January, he changed his plea last month.
Mitigation counsel Lucy Sweetland noted that Lawrence had completed the community service ordered in July.
She highlighted that he had family support and urged the court to consider rehabilitation options over immediate imprisonment.
Judge Richard Wilkin sentenced Lawrence to 16 months’ detention, stating that the video footage was an additional form of degradation for the victim.
The judge emphasised Lawrence's controlling behavior, verbal abuse, and actions that included locking her inside and refusing to let her leave.
While Lawrence showed some remorse, the judge noted it was limited and accused him of victim-blaming.
The sentence included an extension of Lawrence’s driving ban until August of the following year.
