Nicholas Balderston jailed for coercive and physical abuse

During his seven month relationship with the woman Nicholas Balderston constantly phoned her, took her glasses away and made her walk round her house during video calls to prove she didn’t have anyone else there, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

On one occasion in February this year he had put his hand over her mouth and nose and in May he had pushed her on the bed and strangled her until she struggled to breathe.

During the incident he had also accused her of being unfaithful, took off her glasses and head butted her.

Nicholas Balderston has been jailed for 45 months. (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Sentencing 31-year-old Balderston, Judge Emma Peters said: “She had loved you and had been happy in the relationship and has been left scarred by the way you treated her.”

“This is serious offending which has had a significant impact on this lady and nothing short of an immediate prison sentence would suffice,” said the judge.

 The court heard that after his arrest in May this year Balderston had smashed his mobile phone in a bid to prevent police looking at messages on it.

Balderston of no fixed address, denied using controlling and coercive behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice but was convicted after a trial.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a police officer by kicking.

In addition to being jailed Balderston was banned from contacting the victim for seven years.

In an impact statement read to the court the victim said her life had been turned upside down by the way she’d been treated by Balderston and she’d found it hard to pick herself up.

She said she had suffered nightmares and had become a recluse.

The court heard that at the time of the relationship Balderston had recently been released from prison and had mental health issues.

Although he had more than 60 previous convictions, including some for violence, none were for domestic violence.