WORCESTER ABUSER CHRIS HOLDER REPEATEDLY BEAT, STABBED AND BATTERED PARTNER AFTER HE WAS CAUGHT CHEATING WITH HER MUM
A WOMAN claims she was knocked out with a vacuum cleaner thrown at her head and threatened with a meat cleaver by her abusive boyfriend, ending up so bruised she looked 'like the Elephant man'.Christopher Holder denies a string of offences against former partner Abbie Bradshaw, claiming the allegations were made up because she discovered he was cheating on her with her mum.
His trial got underway at Worcester Crown Court yesterday, the complainant claiming she had been 'knocked out by a Hoover' after it was thrown at her by Holder from the top of the stairs.
The complainant also claims she was knocked out when Holder pushed her over a sofa so that she hit her head on the 'concrete slabs' of a fireplace and that he held a 'butcher's knife' to her throat while she sat in her car with her mum.
Other allegations she makes are that he threw a brick at her window, punched her in the face, threw her Sat Nav out of the car window and took her car without permission, 'ragging it' up and down the street.
The 36-year-old defendant of Swallowfields, Warndon Villages, Worcester, denies the following charges; controlling and coercive behaviour between September 1, 2018 and February 13 last year; assault occasioning actual bodily harm on November 2, 2019; assault occasioning actual bodily harm on January 11 last year; having an article with a blade or point (a kitchen knife) in Glenthorne Avenue, Worcester between January 13 and 25 last year; having an article with a blade or point (a meat cleaver) in Glenthorne Avenue between January 13 and 25 last year; assault by beating on February 11 last year; taking a conveyance without consent (Miss Bradshaw's Ford Ka) on February 12 last year and driving while disqualified, also on February 12 last year.
The case was opened by prosecutor Tim Harrington, who described the relationship as 'sour' and said the alleged victim finally found the courage to speak out about her 'ordeal.' He described the relationship as 'characterised by the defendant, often for no reason at all, getting into a jealous rage and losing his temper' with threats, violence, hitting her, and hurting her often without cause.
The complainant took photographs of her injuries, which were shown in court, and described the relationship as 'unhealthy, scary, violent,' adding, 'I was scared for my life.' She said she felt 'worthless' and described an incident where Holder threw a Hoover at her from the top of stairs, causing her to look 'like the Elephant man.' She also described how he 'threw a Hoover at me' during an incident on January 11 last year, hitting her in the face and leaving her with a black eye.
She showed a photo of her bloody nose, sustained during a violent episode, which involved Holder punching her repeatedly after an argument.
She reported that Holder threatened her many times, initially with 'empty threats' but later with real actions, including running at her with two knives, one of which was a 'big butcher's knife,' and holding it to her throat while her mother was in the car.
She said Holder told her, 'You're going to make me end up killing you.' During cross-examination, she denied that her relationship ended because Holder was sleeping with another woman and stated she was aware Holder was 'having an affair with your mum,' although she clarified she did not use the term 'affair.' She also confirmed she had been punched and pushed over by Holder, and while Aris suggested the Hoover incident was an accident, she insisted she could not have accidentally been hit in the face with the Hoover.
The trial was ongoing at the time of the report.
