A man who launched a series of violent assaults against his former partner, including when she was pregnant, has been handed a seven-year restraining order.
Howard Ingram, 31, of North Street, Wilton, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on July 17 after pleading guilty to three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and intentional strangulation.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The court heard the assaults took place over a period of time.
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In one incident in July 2023, Ingram struck the woman in the face multiple times with a full can of coke, causing a black eye.
A month later, he grabbed her in a chokehold until she lost consciousness.
During another argument, Ingram punched her in the face repeatedly, breaking her nose and causing other facial injuries.
The abuse continued even while the victim was pregnant, the court was told.
Ingram pinned her against a wall before throwing her to the ground.
In a victim impact statement read in court, the woman described the lasting impact of the abuse.
She said: “You destroyed me to have me at your beck and call. You manipulated your friends and family from the day we met to believe I was this awful person so when you allowed me to see your true colours, they would never believe me.
"You played your smear campaign right from the start.
"As much as it pains me to say, you do deserve whatever punishment comes your way, and this is no longer in my control. But I pray that nobody ever suffers by your hands again. I have come out of this stronger and happier than ever before. Yes, I am still recovering and that recovery will take time, perhaps even years. But it can take place inside the loving, safe, happy family that I have around me.
"If you were to lay your hands on a person – child or woman – more vulnerable than me – I don’t think they’d live to tell the tale. If I just walked away from all this without taking action, leaving you free to do the same to someone else, I would never be able to forgive myself.”
Local crime investigator Natalie Dalton said: "Ingram subjected the woman to a sustained campaign of violence, including strangulation, physical assaults and repeatedly using force against her.
"His actions were controlling, dangerous and completely unacceptable.
"There is no place in society for offenders like Ingram.
"This case has taken a long time from the point of reporting to the eventual sentencing.
"The survivor has had to overcome a lot of obstacles in order to support this legal process."
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