'We were on our honeymoon period, then he completely snapped and I thought I would die'

A woman has told how she was still just getting to know a boyfriend when he "completely snapped" and left her "covered in blood" after a. Nicole Hollinshead, 26, says she was left fearing for her life at the hands of Jordan McMahon, who brutally beat her at his flat in Brinnington, Stockport, after they returned back from a date on September 29 last year.

McMahon, who has since been for two years and eight months, pleaded guilty to the offence of grievous bodily harm after being arrested and remanded into custody on the night of the horror assault.

Nicole said the pair had only been seeing one another for a few weeks and were in the "honeymoon period" when he "snapped" and she became victim to the prolonged attack.

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After being "punched and kicked", with her face "covered in blood", she said she was eventually able to break free from his grip and run to a neighbour's house for safety. "One night we had been to the pub and I'd agreed to stay at his. We came back and that was when he turned and unleashed this attack on me," she said.

"We had just been casually dating and getting to know one another. It was supposed to be the honeymoon period and we had been on a few dates. When we got back, he started to accuse me of cheating on him and looking at other men. Then he completely snapped.

"He began beating me to the point where there were so many blows that I just saw black flashes in my eyes and couldn't feel anything. All I remember was being on the floor in the foetal position. He was stomping on me and kicking me. I was screaming and begging for him to stop.

"He got on top of me and began to strangle me. He had his hands around my neck, was looking into my eyes and I thought I was going to die. It just came from nowhere. I thought we'd had a good evening. I really believed he was going to kill me. He was staring into my eyes - like he was looking through me.

"He had bust my nose open and there was that much blood that he lost his grip, and I threw him off me and ran out of the house. I was banging on every window for help because I thought he was going to come after me."

Nicole said the police were already on their way because a neighbour downstairs heard her screaming. She claimed her desperate calls for help could be heard in the background of the 999 call.

McMahon, who is the father to four children, was swiftly arrested and remanded into custody. He was charged at the time with causing grievous bodily harm with intent under s18, non-fatal strangulation, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cocaine.

However, in February this year before trial, the 27-year-old changed his plea to guilty on the lesser charge of s20 GBH, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service. It carries maximum sentence of five years. He also pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cocaine.

He was sentenced on April 11 at Crown Court to 32 months imprisonment. Nicole was also given a five-year restraining order against him for her protection. But speaking out about the violent ordeal, Nicole now says she does not feel as though justice has been served and wants to use her experience to urge other victims of domestic violence to speak out.

"Getting my message out there has helped me feel so much stronger, because I didn't see a way out," she told the . "I have so many amazing people around me.

"Jordan just completely love-bombed me. I had no idea and there were no signs of him being violent at first. If anything, he was a little too obsessed with me, but I didn't see it at the time. We had been out for walks. Been on dates. I'd helped put food in his fridge.

"At first I was so ashamed. But I am not scared anymore. The police have done everything in their power, but the justice system for this type of crime is not good enough. I want this to be out there because he is dangerous and a threat to public. I am not keeping quiet and taking this lying down. I feel empowered.

"The CPS allowed him to lower his charges, which I objected to. To only get that prison sentence means he will be out to do this again. He is evil." The CPS say that a decision was made to accept his guilty plea to the offence of grievous bodily harm under s20 was made 'in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors'.

It's understood prosecutors "carefully considered" the sentencing guidelines and concluded that the sentencing powers for a s20 grievous bodily harm offence would "allow the court to consider the very serious and sustained nature of the violence inflicted upon the victim in a domestic setting".

Before accepting a lesser plea, the prosecution must consider If the plea offered reflects the seriousness and extent of the offending and gives the court adequate powers to sentence and impose appropriate post-conviction orders.

A CPS spokesperson said in a statement: "This was a vicious domestic assault, and we commend the victim for supporting the prosecution. We considered this case very carefully and when the defendant offered an alternative guilty plea of grievous bodily harm, we concluded this offence would allow the court sufficient powers to hand down a punishment which reflected the seriousness of the crime.

“McMahon has now been sentenced to more than two and a half years behind bars, and we also secured a five-year restraining order to protect the victim from further harm. We recognise the lasting impact of domestic abuse and have written to the victim to fully explain our decision-making in this case."