A domestic abuser, Denzel Barzey, prone to “outbursts of unpleasant violence” has been locked up after assaulting his partner so viciously she was left with short-term memory loss. Denzel Barzey “learnt nothing” from previous spells in jail for controlling behaviour and went on to attack the woman three times in their seven-month relationship.
The 30-year-old, Denzel Barzey, of Pittmans Field, Harlow, admitted two counts of actual bodily harm and assault by beating, which left his now ex-partner with nightmares and she scared that he would come for her again. The first incident of violence started when he became angry at her laughing at something on her phone.
Denzel Barzey was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday (December 2). Prosecuting, Rory Gordon said: “The defendant and victim were in a relationship from early summer last year and February this year. There were three separate incidents where he assaulted her.”
Mr Gordon said Denzel Barzey was annoyed at the woman laughing at something on her phone and threw a deodorant can at her, missing her and denting the wall. When she got annoyed by this, he shoved her onto the bed. Mr Gordon continued: “On January 20, 2024, the defendant and the victim were arguing. He wanted some lingerie back to give it to another girl. She wouldn’t tell him where she had put it and he punched her three times and beat her leg and caused bruising. She took pictures of this.
“Another incident he arrived home at her address after being at the pub after drinking with friends. He brought flowers and chocolates and accused her of having another man at the address and being unfaithful. He then ordered food and it arrived and he ate some of it. He asked her to order more food but she didn’t. The defendant left the address and she told him not to come back.
Getting help and support for domestic violence
Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone.
Domestic violence, also called domestic abuse, includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse in couple relationships or between family members. Domestic violence can happen against anyone, and anybody can be an abuser, the NHS says.
You do not need to wait for an emergency situation to get help. It may seem like a difficult step to take, but there is support available and You Are Not Alone.
Free, confidential support and advice is available to victims and their concerned family members or friends, 24 hours a day.
In an emergency, call 999
Women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support
Talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife
Men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at Men’s Advice Line (Wednesday 10am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm) for non-judgemental information and support.. Men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
If you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support
Anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit
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“But he returned and went through her phone. He became violent and punched her three to four times to the back of the head. He went on to make threats to kill himself with a kitchen knife he had picked up. She tried to call the police but the defendant begged her to hang up. Police attended and the defendant was arrested.”
The woman attended Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow for bruising and swelling to her head where Denzel Barzey had attacked her. In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she is now “always on edge and anxious” about everything with “regular nightmares” where she is trying to call the police and not getting through.
She said: “As a result of the incident, I suffer from short-term memory loss, and I can’t remember what happened, with bad headaches. Sometimes I don’t want to speak to anyone at all. I find it hard to be around people that are happy when I am not. I am afraid of him, he knows where me and my sister live. I don’t think he will hesitate to do something to me.”
Mitigating, Lee Sergent said Denzel Barzey had lost his permanent home at the time and was out of work but was taking steps to improve himself, having carried out 43 courses in prison, including weekly sessions with alcoholics anonymous, as well as working with the National domestic abuse helpline.
Judge Mary Loram KC detailed how Denzel Barzey had previously been jailed for coercive and controlling behaviour and had “learnt nothing” from his jail time and is still prone to “unpleasant outbursts of violence”. She jailed him for 22 months.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.