A Stroud man who subjected his former partner to an 18 month campaign of harassment and sexual abuse has been jailed for 12 years.

After a week-long trial at Gloucester Crown Court in February the jury accepted the woman's account of her ordeal at the hands of 46-year-old Jonathan Nash and convicted him of two offences of sexually assaulting her.

Nash of Allen Road, Paganhill, Stroud, also admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order between December 9, 2018 and January 3, 2019 and on January 7, 2019 by attending her address when he was prohibited from doing so.

The jury was told that the woman had met Nash in 2017, and that they were briefly involved with each other for a couple of months, but he claimed they had a long term sexual relationship.

Nash insisted that the relationship was ‘very much on the go’ throughout the 18-month period.

Prosecutor David Scutt said at the trial: “When Nash turned up at his victim’s home on January 7, 2019 it quickly turned into a sexual assault."

Mr Scutt explained to the jury that the victim was a vulnerable woman who would give in when Nash played the sympathy card on her. He would threaten to kill himself and she said she could not live with that on her conscience.

The victim said in her evidence: “In October 2017, I started a new relationship and Nash quickly became jealous and began a long-term campaign of abuse, intimidation, control and manipulation.

"I wanted to move on with my life. I got a restraining order imposed to prevent him from contacting me after he had assaulted me and my new partner.

“The justice system seemed unable to control Nash. He took advantage of me and began emotionally abusing me, intimidating me, controlling me.”

At yesterday’s sentencing hearing (March 10) the victim said: “Nash’s behaviour has affected my mental health and wellbeing over the past three years. When he pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting me I felt physically sick that he would get away with what he had done.

“He made me feel worthless and dirty. I lost my way in life. He reduced me to being a pathetic helpless useless person. When I knew there was going to be a trial I contemplated in taking my own life rather than face the court.

“I was petrified I would see Nash in the courtroom. I felt he would be laughing at me, controlling me from the dock by putting me through the court ordeal.

“I trusted Nash, but I was naive. He put me through hell and back. I am ashamed that I didn’t report his actions earlier. I feel I am the one serving a life sentence. I don’t think I will ever smile again.

“He has destroyed my trust in mankind.”

Tabby McFarlane, defending, said: “Nash still denies committing these offences he was found guilty of. However he does accept that he behaved badly towards the woman.

“Nash suffers from learning difficulties, but he has grown up a lot since this relationship ended.

“Today he is not the same man who committed these offences as he has been in a relationship with a new partner for the past two years.

“Going forward, Nash wants to do everything he can get himself into better place before he is released from prison.”

The Judge, Recorder Kate Brunner QC told Nash: “During your trial I saw first-hand how severely your actions had harmed your former partner. She may never recover mentally from this ordeal.

"You terrorised her for almost two years. She is now traumatised, vulnerable and desperate.

During a campaign of harassment conducted over many months, you contacted her from different phone numbers, called her from prison; you ignored court orders making her feel the police and courts were powerless to protect her. You gaslighted her.

“You are a dangerous man. You paid little regard to court orders in the past. Your pursuit of your victim was consistent and the sexual assault occurred in the woman’s home.”

The judge sentenced Nash to a prison term for 12 years and told him that he would not be considered for parole until he had served at least eight years.

Nash was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order not to contact his victim and ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.