‘Jekyll and Hyde’ Harrogate man jailed for kicking woman

The woman thought homeless Nathan George McGowan was a “good” person, funny and kind, when she allowed him to stay with her in January this year, said prosecution barrister Esther Bukoye.

But the victim soon realised he was a “Jekyll and Hyde” person, whose behaviour would change suddenly without warning and without cause. After he assaulted her, she hid anything he could use as a weapon against her and moved her beloved dog out of her house.

On January 23, he attacked her, “kicking her with so much force she fell back against a wall”, said the barrister. With blood pouring from a cut on her head, she went to accident and emergency and her dog, who was still living with her then, panicked and started having fits.

In a personal statement, the woman said: “Nobody deserves to be treated in this way, no matter how handsome you are, no matter how many crocodile tears you shed.”

She said: “You never knew which version of him you were going to see.”

On the day he was due to stand trial, McGowan, 32, of Harrogate, pleaded guilty to causing the woman actual bodily harm. Charges alleging other forms of violence were left on file, meaning they will appear on his record but not as criminal convictions.

His long criminal history includes 101 previous convictions and in 2019 he was jailed for six years and nine months for wounding a person with intent.

Judge Simon Hickey said the woman had given McGowan a home out of simple “Christian decency” and he had attacked her. McGowan was jailed for 13 months.

He was also banned from going near the woman’s home, contacting her in any way or through a third person, going to her place of work and posting anything about her on social media, or getting someone else to post about her, under a 10-year restraining order.

Defence barrister Chloe Hudson said McGowan had been trying to get help while remanded in custody but was finding it very difficult. He had mental health issues including anxiety.

He had no wish to resume the relationship with the woman and wanted to improve his life and move on.