...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Man jailed for “bellyflop” attack on girlfriend
A man has been jailed for three years after carrying out a “terrifying beating” on his girlfriend at a hotel in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Sean Mellin, who weighs 25 stone, crushed his partner, Charlotte Marsden, with a “bellyflop”, leaving her fearing for her life.
Mellin also strangled, punched and kicked Marsden during the incident in August 2020, which took place during a night of heavy drinking and drug-taking.
The attack only ended when Mellin fell asleep. Marsden sustained bruises to her back, throat, legs, back of ears, and face.
Mellin pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and strangulation.
The attack
Marsden described Mellin as being like a “demon with a big belly” as he used his weight to overpower her.
During the attack, Mellin used his “massive bulk” to pin her to the floor and then told her: “You’re not going anywhere” as she struggled to breathe.
Marsden said she couldn’t breathe when Mellin was on top of her and thought she was going to die.
She added that Mellin squeezed and pushed his fingers into her nose, making it impossible for her to breathe.
She said: “He was like a monster, like a demon. He was not all there behind his eyes.”
The aftermath
Marsden, who was dressed in only a towel, was only able to escape when Mellin fell asleep following the attack.
She said she felt degraded and like a “lowlife”.
She added that she thought she would never see her nephew again and that Mellin knew they had a close relationship, which he used against her.
Following the attack, Marsden had to stay with other people because she feared Mellin would kill her when he was released from custody.
The relationship
Marsden and Mellin met during the first lockdown in 2020.
Marsden said Mellin initially “seemed like a nice guy”, but the relationship quickly became toxic. S
he said Mellin would bully and belittle her because she had poor self-confidence.
She said Mellin knew she was trying to leave him before the attack, and as a result, he became angrier than ever.
The court case
Mellin initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial.
In mitigation, Mellin’s lawyer said the relationship was “volatile” and “toxic”.
She said the attack took place during a period where the couple were staying in a hotel room and had been drinking and taking drugs.
In sentencing, the judge said Mellin’s behaviour was “beyond disgraceful” and that he showed “not a slither of remorse”.
