Brackley man jailed for 30 months for assault on former partner

A Brackley man who assaulted his ex-partner as she lay asleep in bed has been jailed for two and a half years.

Lewis Bland, aged 34, left the woman fearing for her life when he attacked her at a property in Helene Close in the early hours of September 11, 2023.

Northamptonshire Police had been called to the couple’s home a week previously after Bland had become violent towards the woman for the first time, which led to the end of their relationship.

Then, on the evening of September 10, the woman had returned from a work trip to find Bland in their shared flat and did not feel able to ask him to leave as they were both still named on the lease.

In the early hours of the following day the woman awoke to find Bland in her room, pinning her to the bed and pinching her nose while holding his other hand over her mouth.

She managed to fight him off and escaped to her en-suite, where she was trapped without her phone to call for help.

When she finally came out, she found Bland bleeding from the legs and in possession of a knife. She was eventually able to escape to a neighbour’s, who called the police while Bland fled.

Following the attack, Bland was arrested and went on to be charged with attempted murder, which he denied at his initial crown court hearing on October 25.

His trial began at Northampton Crown Court on Monday, January 29, this year. On February 1 the jury returned a not guilty verdict on this charge, instead finding Bland guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

On Thursday, March 14, Bland returned to the same court where he was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and issued with an eight-year restraining order preventing him from having contact with the victim.

Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Stacey Hill, of the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Lewis Bland subjected his former partner to an utterly terrifying assault, which left her in genuine fear for her life.

“Her courage in ending their relationship following his previous violent outburst, in fighting him off when she woke to find him attacking her, and in supporting our investigation all the way to trial, has resulted in Bland rightly being sent to jail.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police.

“No-one should have to live in fear of someone who claims to love them. If you are being subjected to any form of abuse, please report it to us – we will listen and do all we can bring the person responsible to justice.”

*This report and image have been released with the support of the victim.*

Report non-emergency crime to 101, or online at www.northants.police.uk/RO.

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