COUNTY DURHAM MAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL DOMESTIC ATTACK ON EX-PARTNER
Just 13 days after being released from custody for a prior assault, Joseph Coils, a resident of County Durham, broke into a woman’s home during the early hours of December 1 last year while she was sleeping.The 23-year-old violently pulled the woman out of bed by her hair, punched her multiple times, and attempted to gouge her eyes out with the intent of preventing her from seeing another man.
The assault occurred in front of their three-year-old son, who hid under his bed covers in fear.
Concerned neighbors alerted the police, who responded quickly and arrested Coils, taking him into custody.
He faced charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as breaching a previously issued restraining order designed to protect the woman from him.
Coils, who is from Stanley, admitted to violating the restraining order but denied inflicting grievous bodily harm.
A jury at Durham Crown Court deliberated for just 40 minutes before finding him guilty of the assault, and he was subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison on August 22.
In a victim impact statement, the woman shared her fears, stating she believed she would have been killed if police had not intervened.
“If they had not come, who knows what may have happened to me,” she said.
“He was telling me he wanted me to die, and I genuinely thought I was going to die.
Since we separated, he refuses to leave me alone.
He has destroyed my life—my face is scarred from his attack, I carry injuries, and I sincerely believe he will try to kill me someday.
I know he ignores any conditions or orders and tries to find out where I am as soon as he can, which makes me fear for my safety.
I don’t know what I can do to move forward.
The only time I feel safe and at peace is when he is in prison because I know he cannot find me or do me harm.”
