Women have been reassured that South Yorkshire Police take abuse cases seriously after a Doncaster man who took a woman hostage for two days was jailed for almost four years.
Isaac Greaves, 24, appeared in Sheffield Crown Court last Thursday and has now been sentenced to three years and nine months in jail.
He was arrested last November after what South Yorkshire police describe as “disturbing, menacing and disgusting” behaviour against a woman in her 20s.
Greaves ordered his victim to meet him at a hotel in West Yorkshire where he held her hostage for two days.
He proceeded to make a series of violent threats to his victim.
During an attempt to strangle her, the victim was able to escape to a car park where he forced her to get in the car with him.
He forced her to drive down the motorway while he “erratically pulled on the handbrake” and tried to kick the windscreen through.
He then ordered her to return to the hotel to collect his possessions and when she returned from doing so he left with a friend.
After the victim disclosed the events to a doctor, Greaves was taken into custody where he pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault by beating.
PC Jessica Needham, the officer in charge of the case, said: “Greaves’ disturbing, menacing and disgusting behaviour terrified his victim to the point where she had no choice but to do everything he asked of her.”
“I hope this conviction and sentence reassures victims of domestic abuse that we take this type of crime incredibly seriously.”
A spokesperson for Sheffield Women’s Aid, a charity dedicated to keeping women and children safe, said: “We are devastated to hear of such a senseless attack.
“It reiterates that domestic abuse is still a very real threat to so many women and we hope some good and necessary change can come from this.”
PC Needham said: “Without her testimony Greaves could still be wandering our streets and we are relieved he is now behind bars where he belongs.”
For anyone who may have been affected by topics in this article please call the Samaritans helpline on 116 123 for 24-hour support.
Or to report domestic abuse, call the police on 109 or 999 in an emergency where a crime is in progress or a life is at risk.