A woman who was attacked with a knife by her boyfriend after months of abuse has stood up in court as he faced justice to bravely vow: 'I will be healed'.
The woman had been in a relationship with her now ex-boyfriend, Kildare Ward, 26, from December 2017, until June 4, 2018 - the night he attacked her.
The couple met when Ward was 22 and she was 19.
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But Manchester Crown Court heard how Ward's behaviour 'changed' and he became 'jealous and controlling'.
"You accused her of flirting with other men and you didn't like her going out with her friends. You only wanted her to mix with your friends," Recorder Matthew Corbett-Jones told Ward.
"You demeaned her by calling her 'a s**g' and you didn't approve of her seeing her mother."
Ward didn't like his victim using social media and he persuaded her to give up her job. He argued that she 'should be looking after me now'.
In a text message, he referred to her as 'a dirty, filthy little s**g, but in time the abuse became physical with low punches and kicks. Once, he threw a cup of hot tea over her back.
On the night of June 4, 2018, Ward came in from a night out while his victim was in bed.
He kicked her while she was in bed and was abusive towards her, throwing the TV remote at her.
Ward locked the front door and punched her in the head for about a minute.
"When she said she would call the police, you reappeared over her with a knife, saying 'you've done it now'," said the Recorder.
"She received minor cuts as you tried to frighten and intimate her, but an injury to her leg has left a lasting, although faint, scar.
"This was a terrifying incident which came to pass at the end of months of abuse. You behaved like a bully, but of course, you were really a coward who took out your frustrations and anger on a young woman."
'I still have nightmares and panic attacks'
Giving her statement, the victim stood behind a screen to prevent Ward from making eye contact with her.
She said: "I can say that time has been some sort of healer [since the end of the relationship in 2018].
"I am much strong than I have been, but it took a long time to rebuild myself. I lost my family, my relationship with my mum was destroyed and I lost my friends and my home.
"It took a long time for me to find my feet again. It changed the way I empathised and conducted my relationship with my new boyfriend who I now wish I had met before Kildare."
She said her mental health had been low and 'I have never been more vulnerable'.
"I still have nightmares and panic attacks," she continued.
The victim, who is now pregnant with her new partner, had heart surgery in 2018.
And in a powerful end to her statement, she added: "I know I am worthy of a good life, worthy of happiness and worthy of love. I will be healed and I'm so grateful that I am still here."
Father-of-five Ward, of North Street, Middleton, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years after being found guilty of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and unlawful wounding at a prior trial.
He had been acquitted of the more serious charge of unlawful wounding with intent.
At Manchester Crown Court Recorder Matthew Corbett-Jones granted an application for a restraining order on apprentice roofer Ward, preventing him from contacting his victim directly or indirectly or visiting her home or place of work. It will run for five years.
Ward was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to his victim and £250 costs.
He must also complete a Building Better Relationships Course and 25 days' rehabilitation activity. Ward must also additionally complete outstanding hours of an unpaid community work order imposed for a molestation offence in 2020.
He will also be tagged and subject to a curfew between the hours of 6pm and 5am for the next four months.
