Ex launched brutal attack outside Didcot Parkway station

Sending him down for 42 months at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, judge Recorder Samantha Presland told Nathan Poole that he had carried out an ‘abhorrent, prolonged attack’ on the mother of his children.

But the hearing descended into acrimony, as supporters for the defendant and victim exchanged insults across the public gallery.

One man shouted ‘you’re s***’ after 33-year-old Poole was told he would serve half the three-and-a-half year sentence behind bars.

Seconds later, the victim – seated in the public gallery – was accused of killing a rabbit belonging to the defendant’s current partner.

Earlier, prosecutor John Lloyd-Richards told the court that Poole and his victim had been in a ‘toxic’ relationship that, although it had largely ended two-and-a-half years before his assault last year had continued on-and-off.

On October 2, the pair had been out drinking in the Broadways pub before moving to the Prince of Wales. The defendant had taken cocaine, a drug branded ‘abhorrent’ by the judge.

Realising that her ex still had her vape and bank cards, the woman went after him outside Didcot Parkway railway station.

Poole was caught on camera knocking her to the ground, returning ‘back and forth’ to kick her in the head and body, and throttling her with both hands on her neck.

The attack left the victim with a broken jaw, marks on her neck and extensive bruising.

In moving impact statements read to the court by Mr Lloyd-Richards, she described the devastating impact that the assault had had on her mental health and her relationship with her children.

She said it had ‘changed my life in so many ways’, adding: “I feel my whole life has fallen apart.” She had been admitted to psychiatric hospital after finding herself in crisis.

Poole, of King Walk, Didcot, pleaded guilty shortly before his trial was due to begin to causing grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

Mitigating, Derek Barry said his client was remorseful and that he ‘regrets’ the attack on his ex-partner.

He read a character reference from Poole’s boss at the landscaping firm where he had worked for eight years. It described him as a hard worker and dedicated to his job.

After hearing the reference read, Recorder Presland noted: “This is the pattern of domestic violence; that people are wonderful in the community and awful at home.”

The defendant received an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim.

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