Nathan John James Corby
Attempted grievous bodily harm *
Sentence
3 years in a young offender institution
Nathan John James Corby, 20, of Holme Park Court, Woodhead Road, Berry Brow, had a turbulent and controlling relationship with his estranged girlfriend Eloise White. In September 2014, he poured liquid over her, claiming it was lighter fluid, threatened to light it while flicking a cigarette lighter, sprayed deodorant in her face causing her to cough up blood, and threatened to throw her over a balcony. He later admitted the liquid was water. They split up, but on January 11, 2015, when she returned to collect belongings at his home in Holme Park Court, Berry Brow, he refused to let her leave, screamed in her face, threw her to the floor, spat on her, and strangled her from behind with electrical wire for around two minutes, saying 'Do you want to die?' She coughed up blood and felt numb. He released her the next day. Afterwards, he made 702 calls in one month and threatened her and her family, prompting them to install anti-arson devices. Separately, in August 2014, while on bail, he pointed a knife at another woman's throat and prodded her chest after a dispute.
Found guilty by a jury of affray and possessing a bladed article in August last year; admitted attempted grievous bodily harm to Miss White, affray and harassment. Recorder Tony Hawks noted the offences were cowardly, nasty, and frightening, and that custody would be hard due to Corby's emotional and psychological difficulties.