Woman ran for her life in Asda car park from cruel boyfriend

A terrified woman ran for help in the Asda car park after being beaten and "treated like an unwanted animal" by her abusive boyfriend. Marc Jackson, 45, attacked his girlfriend in a flat in Newton Abbot - repeatedly punching and dragging her around the property during a frenzied assault.

When she screamed for help he snapped her phone and stopped her calling police. She eventually managed to break free and flagged down a passing motorist.

Jackson, of Thurlow Road, Torquay, has a history of domestic violence and the vulnerable woman had complained about his behaviour on six previous occasions, Exeter Crown Court was told. But he ignored a Domestic Violence Protection Order and continued the abuse.

She said in a statement she had been made to feel worthless by his psychological and physical violence over a period of time. Jackson, who initially denied doing anything wrong, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on the day of his trial in February.

He returned to court to be sentenced on Thursday and was given a community order with unpaid work. The judge said his behaviour had been appalling but he had spent seven months in custody since being arrested and he would give him a chance to address long-standing problems with drugs with probation.

Prosecutor Tom Bradnock said the couple met in 2021. The victim was vulnerable and suffering with bipolar disorder and a crack cocaine habit. They became engaged in March of last year but it was a volatile relationship and she tried to end it several times.

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In July of last year they travelled from Torquay to a flat in Newton Abbot. Jackson had taken the woman's phone and started to become abusive as the evening wore on.

She tried to call an domestic abuse line and trigger an alarm but Jackson attacked her, dragging her around, putting his knees on her chest and swinging several punches to her head.

The woman tried banging on the window for help and screaming but Jackson carried on hitting her to the point where she felt dizzy and losing strength, said the prosecutor. "She thought he was going to kill her," he added.

Jackson continued the violence, grabbing and throwing the woman against a wall, injuring her head. He stopped in fear the woman's screams would alert the police and they left the flat together. She escaped his clutches while in the car park of the nearby supermarket.

The victim suffered pain and bruising over much of her body and face. A scan at hospital revealed multiple rib fractures but it was not clear when they were inflicted or who was responsible.

She said in a statement: "I have been in abusive relationships before but never felt so abused as Marc did." She said he caused physical and emotional trauma which made her feel "like an unwanted animal".

"Each day I wanted him to treat me as a person but the constant putting me down made me think I might deserve to be beaten."

Jackson has a history of domestic violence and breaching protection orders. Just before the assault he was released from a 28-day prison sentence for a DVPO breach against the same victim.

Zoe Kuyken, defending, said he and the woman met when they were both using drugs. That has all changed and he "has never been so positive about being clean" and is eager to work with probation to address his addiction. He is now at a point where he can make a change in his life, she said.

Judge David Evans said Jackson would ordinarily go straight to prison for this offence. He said he had been cruel and domineering. But he has already spent seven months inside and the public would be better served by him proving he has turned a corner. The judge promised a long sentence if he breached the two-year community order.

The order also includes 140 hours of unpaid work and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement. The court also imposed an indefinite restraining order for him not to contact the victim.