Cambridgeshire man jailed for series of violent attacks on girlfriend
A man from Waterbeach has been jailed for 14 months for repeatedly attacking his girlfriend, including strangling and threatening to kill her.
Marcus Kazeem, of Capper Road, first attacked his partner just a month after they began dating in January; he split her lip by slapping her because he thought she was looking at his friend.
The 33-year-old attacked her several more times over the following months.
On 14 March he injured his girlfriend by throwing a television at her during an argument, an offence he would later deny in a police interview, claiming he had "nudged" it instead.
Just under a week later Kazeem smashed the woman's head into a cabinet after becoming angry at a comment she had made.
He then began strangling her and said he "just wanted to kill" her, before the woman was able to run away and call the police.
Kazeem denied every attacking her in his police interview, but subsequently pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three counts of assault by beating at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, 24 April.
He was sentenced to 14 months in prison and given an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the victim, whose bravery has been praised by Cambridgeshire Police.
DC Steve Surtees said: “Kazeem’s attacks on his girlfriend must have been nothing short of terrifying for her.
“No person should have to suffer this kind of abuse. I would like to applaud her bravery in coming forward and encourage anyone else suffering from domestic abuse to do the same.
“Tackling domestic abuse is one of our main priorities and I hope this sends a clear message that we are there for victims and will do all we can to protect them.”
Victims of domestic abuse are able to get immediate help by calling 999 and then dialling 55 if they are unable to speak. The national domestic violence helpline can also be contact on 0808 2000 247.