Helen Thornton was jailed after being convicted of offences against her husband
An abusive and cruel woman carried out a horrific campaign of violence against her loving husband, including stabbing him with the sharp point of an electric toothbrush and repeatedly hitting him with a rolling pin.
Helen Thornton repaid her husband’s “love and support” in the “most grotesque way”, abusing him sadistically over an extended period.
Standing trial at Grimsby Crown Court, the 45-year-old denied two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and a further charge of controlling and coercive behaviour, but was convicted by a jury. She had been remanded in custody since well before the trial after repeatedly breaching her bail, reports Grimsby Live.
Judge John Thackray KC told a sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court that the controlling and coercive behaviour matter involved Thornton “instilling fear” in her husband that violence would be used against him. This happened on at least two occasions between 2016 and last year.
“You made his life a misery and it’s not less serious because it was committed in a domestic setting, it’s more serious because it involved a breach of trust,” said Judge Thackray. “Your husband was entitled to feel safe and secure in his home and in the company of his wife.”
Thornton’s husband endured abuse and attacks “almost night after night”. On one particularly distressing occasion in 2018, police were summoned over an assault and stabbing incident, but he opted not to press charges.
During that event, Thornton wounded him with the pointy end of an electric toothbrush, resulting in a puncture wound. In February last year, Thornton launched a violent attack on her husband with a rolling pin, leaving him with significant bruising.
“You caused injuries on many occasions and made his life a misery,” said Judge Thackray. Thornton threatened to report him for matters that could have damaged him in his job and he started making recordings of things so that he could protect himself from any malicious allegations by her. “He feared that you might make false allegations against him,” said Judge Thackray.
“You would shout and abuse him. This is a very serious case of its kind. It’s not less serious because you are a female. That doesn’t make any difference whatsoever.
“It’s persistent behaviour over a long period and it has had a profound effect upon your victim. It took him a long time to report you for this behaviour. Eventually, he summoned the courage to report you and he bravely gave evidence against you.
“He was very much in love with you for a long time but you abused that love in a most grotesque way night after night. You abused and assaulted your husband, who did his best to love and support you in every way possible.”
“The offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
John Dunning, defending, said that Thornton, of Emfield Road, Grimsby, had spent approximately eight-and-a-half months in custody on remand. He added it was clear that she had suffered difficulties and that alcoholism had played a part in the offences being committed.
Thornton, who had been in custody at New Hall Prison, near Wakefield, was jailed for two years and she was given a 10-year restraining order.
After the hearing, Thornton’s husband told Grimsby Live: “I just don’t want her to hurt anyone else.”
He said that they had been married for 19 years and they were still married, although he had started divorce proceedings. He said that she had previously been a telephonist for BT but she had not worked for about 15 years.
He said that he did not want to comment further on his ordeal but added that he wanted the case to be made public.
