ZACHARY COLEMAN FROM ASHBURTON SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC ABUSE IN DEVON

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of domestic violence, Zachary Coleman, a 35-year-old man from Higher Roborough, Ashburton, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of violent and controlling acts against his partner. The incidents took place over a period of several months, during which Coleman’s behavior escalated from verbal disputes to physical assaults that left his victim with serious injuries.

According to court records and the testimony presented at Exeter Crown Court, Coleman’s relationship with the victim, a single mother, began to deteriorate in October 2022 when he moved into her home in Torbay. It was during this period that his controlling and jealous tendencies started to manifest in increasingly aggressive ways. The prosecution detailed how Coleman’s irrational jealousy led to numerous heated arguments, including one in December shortly after she returned from delivering Christmas cards to friends. During this altercation, Coleman reportedly slammed her against a wall, placing his hand around her neck, and struck her repeatedly in the head. The violence was so severe that she was forced to jump out of a ground floor window to escape his wrath after he broke off the handle of her kitchen door.

Following their temporary separation, the couple reunited, but Coleman’s violent tendencies persisted. On March 7, he accused her of infidelity, specifically claiming she was sleeping with his boss. During this confrontation, he pushed a milk carton into her mouth and punched her multiple times in the face, causing her lip to split and requiring hospital treatment with stitches. The court heard that this assault was particularly brutal, leaving her with injuries that necessitated medical intervention.

The final and most severe incident occurred on March 31. The victim had been out with Coleman and, upon returning home, expressed her gratitude to a stranger who had allowed her to skip a queue at a cash machine by saying, “love you so much.” This innocent remark ignited Coleman’s jealousy, and he responded with violence. He pinned her down on the bed, strangling her to the point where she temporarily lost her ability to breathe. Despite her efforts to call the police, Coleman refused to let them into the property. During this episode, he also punched a hole in a wall and damaged her coffee table. The victim managed to dial 999 during the assault, which ultimately led to Coleman’s arrest.

Throughout the trial, Coleman denied all allegations, claiming that he was the victim of his girlfriend’s jealousy and aggression. However, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges, including strangulation, assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault, controlling and coercive behavior, and criminal damage. The judge, Recorder Andrew Willetts, sentenced Coleman to three years and ten months in prison. Additionally, he imposed a seven-year restraining order to prevent any further contact with the victim, emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes committed in Ashburton and the surrounding areas of Devon.