NATHAN ASHTON – BARROW, CUMBRIA

❌NATHAN ASHTON – BARROW, CUMBRIA❌

He was convicted seven years ago of controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as two counts of assault by beating. During that period, he manipulated, assaulted, and intimidated his partner over a prolonged time before he was eventually sent to prison. He exercised complete control over her life, regularly punching and kicking her, and at one point broke her arm. A lifelong restraining order was issued due to the severity of the abuse. He is considered a danger to women, and he is prohibited from having contact with any of his children for legitimate safety reasons.

He has now been convicted again, he received a 25-month prison sentence following further offences, including strangling his new partner and threatening to slice her face and burn her.

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A Barrow man has been jailed after strangling his former partner and threatening to cut her face.

On November 20 2025, at Preston Crown Court, 32-year-old Nathan Ashton, of Greengate Street, Barrow, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of affray on the day his trial was due to begin.

Prosecutor Emma Swindell told the court that Ashton had been in what she described as a “toxic” relationship with the victim between September 2023 and May 2024. On the morning of September 25, 2024, the victim visited his flat, where Ashton told her to leave and threatened to contact social services to have her two children taken from her care. He then placed his hands around her neck, gripping her throat and restricting her breathing.

The court heard that Ashton’s behaviour then became increasingly erratic. Ms Swindell explained that he followed the woman around the property carrying a deodorant can and lighter, using them together to create a flame. He threatened to burn her and to slash her face with a blade. Ashton also threw her onto the bed to prevent her from leaving and demanded she delete her Facebook account. He made threats towards the father of her children, who subsequently texted the victim to say he was calling the police. This led Ashton to apologise, though he also threatened to contact social services if she refused to speak to the police.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said Ashton’s behaviour had been “completely cruel”. She described suffering sleepless nights, anxiety, and feeling constantly on edge and terrified. His actions had forced her to move to a new address away from her support network.

The court was told that Ashton had 14 previous convictions covering 30 offences. He had been jailed for two years in 2018 for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and in 2017 he had been sentenced for controlling and coercive behaviour.

Defence barrister Beth Pilling urged the court to consider a suspended sentence, arguing that Ashton recognised the seriousness of the situation and regretted rekindling the relationship after bail conditions were lifted. She said he wished to remain single and focus on improving himself. Ms Pilling acknowledged his significant criminal history but pointed out that his last domestic-related conviction was seven years earlier. She added that he had maintained full-time employment at a recycling unit, which had helped him manage his mental health, and argued that imprisonment would cause him to lose both his job and his accommodation.

Recorder Ayeshi Siddiqi, however, said the seriousness of the offence required immediate custody. She emphasised that the incident must have been “absolutely terrifying” for the victim and highlighted her concern that Ashton had returned to domestic offending after several years.

Ashton received a 25-month prison sentence and was made the subject of a five-year restraining order. He will serve up to half of the sentence in custody before being released on licence.