A Rochdale thug was handed a 16-year jail sentence yesterday for the ‘violent’ and ‘degrading’ nine-hour torture of his girlfriend – a sordid effort to successfully drive her to attempted suicide.
Barry Edwards, 44, who changed his name to ‘Naughty Rascal’, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of threats to kill at Minshull Street Crown Court.
The attack, which took place on May 29 2013 at the couple’s Whitehall Street home, left the 25-year-old victim with a perforated lung and unable to walk.
Detective Constable Russ Clarke of Greater Manchester Police said: “This is one of the most horrendous incidents of domestic abuse I have ever dealt with, leaving the 25-year-old woman with terrible lifelong injuries.
“The attack was not only violent but degrading to the woman. He continuously made demands, instructing her to do things that made him feel powerful and simultaneously frightened her.
“He knew she would not be able to carry out what he asked and took pleasure from torturing her.”
At one point Edwards demanded his victim faced the bedroom wall and placed a piece of card between the wall and her nose, beating her if the card dropped to the floor.
During other assaults she was kicked down the stairs and struck with metal dumb bells, the force of which broke her arm.
The victim also had boiling water poured on her, her hair singed and her nose, face and other parts of her body cut with a razor blade.
She eventually slashed her wrists before being rescued by police after they were alerted by neighbours who heard banging noises and found walls spattered with blood.
Neighbours recalled overhearing Edwards shout ‘I’ll break your f***ing spine’, whilst his girlfriend begged ‘Don’t Baz, please don’t, I don’t want to die’.
She was initially too frightened to blame Edwards, but later confessed she had been beaten throughout their eight-year relationship.
DC Clarke said: “From the beginning of this investigation I have been humbled by the bravery and the courage shown by the victim after what was a truly horrific, life changing ordeal.
“She had suffered at the hands of Edwards for many years and without her courage we would not have been able to get justice for her.
“Nobody should suffer at the hands of a violent partner and we will do everything we can to protect victims of domestic abuse and send the perpetrators to jail.”
