Brave woman reveals her ordeal at hands of ex-fiance
THE devastating effects of an abusive relationship were laid bare as a manipulative bully was jailed for harassing his former fiancee.
Leanne Nield took the brave step of reading out her victim impact statement in court as her expartner John Lefevre sat in the dock.
She told how their ‘onoff’ relationship, started out ‘amazing’.
But soon she was being subjected to ‘manipulation, control, put downs, constant abuse’.
“I was cheated on and treated like dirt. I became isolated, alone and worthless,” Miss Nield, 32, from Heywood, told the courtroom. “Over the past three years he has broken me down mentally, emotionally and physically. Due to this I have fought depression, anxiety and still have them.
“What has hurt me most is the abuse and bullying from a man who was meant to love and protect me.
“I loved that man so much and would have walked the Earth for him. It destroyed me how I’ve been treated.”
Miss Nield later declined to speak about the case but a judge heard how the once-loving relationship took a downward spiral.
Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told during a sentencing hearing on Friday how Miss Nield and Lefevre, 29, began a ‘tempestuous’ relationship in 2015.
But it quickly turned sour. In November last year, Lefevre was given a non-molestation order, which limited his contact with Miss Nield, a receptionist.
But just a month later the couple got back together.
And the court heard how in December Lefevre attacked his partner at her home, grabbing her round the throat and throwing her onto a sofa.
Despite the abuse, the couple rekindled their relationship and got engaged at Christmas that year.
In March this year he ‘bombarded’ Miss Nield with 30 phone calls in a single morning. She recorded the calls and part of one was played in court.
In it Lefevre could be heard hurling abuse at Miss Nield as she repeatedly screams ‘leave me alone’. A number of abusive text messages sent by Lefevre to Miss Nield were also shown to the court. Carmel Wilde, defending, said: “The defendant accepts these messages and phone calls were made, but there is a bigger picture and he would receive similar messages from the complainant.”
Lefevre, of Westminster Close, Widnes, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to harassment and breaching a non-molestation order.
He was also given an indefinite restraining order, banning him from any contact with Miss Nield.