Man from Nuneaton jailed for sexually abusing partner

A police officer has praised the courage of the woman in coming forward.

Author: Ben CartwrightPublished 25th Jul 2023

A police officer has praised the courage of a Nuneaton woman who survived rape and years of controlling abuse by her ex-partner.

At Warwick Crown Court last week, Thomas Bourne, 27, of High Street, Nuneaton was jailed for 10 years and two months.

A jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and one count of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. He was jailed for 10 years for these offences and given an addition two months jail time for failing to appear at court while the jury was deliberating its verdict. All the offences occured in Nuneaton.

The prosecution is among a growing number of cases in which police are pursing perpetrators of coercive and controlling behaviour in an intimate relationship, something that became an offence in 2015.

Bourne raped his partner five years ago while they were in a relationship together.

He raped her again in 2019 whilst she was allowing him to stay in her home because he was homeless.

This violent behaviour was accompanied by years of violent controlling behaviour. Bourne forbade his partner from going out of the house while he was asleep.

One time she visited a friend while he was asleep and when she returned Bourne rubbed the scouring side of a sponge in her face causing cuts. The victim left and came back 90 minutes later when Bourne acted normally, as though nothing had happened.

When she went out with friends or family members Bourne would bombard her with calls and messages and accused her of cheating on him when she got home. The victim disclosed to friends that she was scared of him.

Detective Constable Caroline Maguire from Warwickshire Police said: “The cowardly behaviour shown by Bourne is typical of a controlling person; their own insecurities lead them to act in the most violent and oppressive ways.

“Bourne has shown no remorse and the length of the sentence reflects the need to protect the public from him.”

Bourne will be able to apply for release after serving two thirds of his sentence. If he is released, he can be recalled, should he breach the terms of his licence up until the end of the 10 year two month sentence.

He has also been given an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

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