His barrister told the court that Brandon Copeman ‘finds himself in this revolving door of domestic abuse’
Brandon Copeman appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A menacing bully with a history of nasty violence towards women made a series of shocking death threats, including “I’ll slit your f***ing throat” and “Trust me, you are dying today”. Drug user Brandon Copeman also sent a text message with the sinister warning: “Your house is getting burned to the ground.”
He left a terrified woman “feeling depressed and trapped” after attacking and strangling her as well as causing damage to a phone and a door during several bad-tempered incidents. He was in a “revolving door of domestic abuse” and needed to change his violent behaviour, Hull Crown Court heard.
Copeman, 23, of Dent Road, Cottingham, but recently in custody on remand, admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, and intentionally strangling her. He also admitted sending messages threatening death or serious harm and two offences of causing criminal damage.
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that Copeman sent a series of text messages on October 11 with threats towards a woman that he knew. They included: “Trust me. Your face is getting smashed in, I promise” and “Your house is getting burned to the ground.”
Others said: “I’ll kill you” and “I’ll slit your f***ing throat” as well as “Trust me, you are dying today” and “You will have no eyes when I’m done.” During a violent confrontation between October 14 and 15, Copeman hurled insults and allegations at her before punching her on her right arm, causing bruises.
He smashed her mobile phone on a kitchen counter. During another incident, Copeman pulled a door so forcefully that it was damaged, splintering the wood around it so that it could not be closed properly.
On October 17, Copeman pushed the woman and told her: “I’ll batter you black and blue. I’ll leave you for dead.” He threw a clothes airer at her and hurled it across the room again.
“She screamed for help,” said Miss Hobson. Copeman strangled the woman by holding his hand across her throat, restricting her breathing to the extent that she felt dizzy.
He threw her phone across the room and at her, causing cracks and a black spot on the screen. The woman later said that the incidents and “prolonged abuse” left her feeling “depressed and trapped” and restricted what she could and could not do in her daily life.
Copeman had convictions for three previous offences in 2022, including assault causing actual bodily harm, harassment and breaching a non-molestation order, involving a different woman. Those incidents included punching the victim five or six times on her arm, pushing her onto a bed and strangling her.
He contacted her numerous times on Facebook and Snapchat and turned up at her house uninvited. A non-molestation order was made but he contacted the woman on Facebook.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Copeman was taking drugs at the time of the latest offences and he was immature. “The defendant bitterly regrets his behaviour and the time that he has spent in custody since October 20 has had a salutary effect upon him,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan.
“He knows that more work is required. He finds himself in this revolving door of domestic abuse. He is motivated to work with the probation office.
“He is young. There is time for him to change. This defendant is motivated. He can begin addressing the issues that he has. The defendant does not have accommodation.”
Copeman was jailed for 16 months and he was given a 10-year restraining order.
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