Bristol man jailed for assaulting ex-partner in Warminster

A domestic violence victim has said she was so scared her ex-partner was going to burn down her house while she was sleeping that she locked her letterbox.

Tyler Thornhill, from Henbury, Bristol, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting two counts of assaulting his ex-partner on Valentine’s Day last year.

He was armed with a baseball bat when he forced his way into her Warminster home and grabbed her by the throat.

In a statement read to Salisbury Crown Court, his victim said: “He promised me there was nowhere for me to run or hide where he couldn’t get to me.”

She added: “I never thought I would find the courage to report the abuse, simply because I was too scared.”

Thornhill, 24, of Standfast Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm (ABH) and two counts of criminal damage.

As well as 30 months in prison, he was ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge and given a 10-year restraining order during sentencing on April 29.

In the statement, his victim added: “I constantly check multiple times during the night that the doors are locked, the curtains are closed, the lights are off and I even go as far as Selloping the letterbox for fear that my house will catch fire in time that I was sleeping.”

Thornhill’s victim was praised by police for showing “great strength” throughout the investigation.

Detective Constable Suzanne Stone, from Wiltshire Police, said: “Thornhill subjected his victim to three years of abuse, including physical and mental abuse.

“His behavior and actions have made her fear repercussions to the point where they won’t sleep and even caused them to move home.

“The impact of all this has stripped the victim of their confidence and trust, something that should never happen to anyone.

“I welcome the sentence that was given, particularly the 10-year restraining order that was put in place. I hope that the victim can now finally start to feel safe and start to get on with life.”