Mother-of-four Nadine met a ‘loving’ man online who ‘love bombed’ her. But over the next four years, her life turned into a horror story of abuse at his hands

A British man has been jailed for just nine months after subjecting his Australian girlfriend to years of physical and mental abuse – even threatening her children.

Nadine Hams, 43, from Gippsland in south-east Victoria, has opened up about her relationship with Terry Phillips, who she said was initially very loving and ‘loves bombing’.

The pair met online but within less than six months Phillips became violent, leaving Ms Hams, a mother-of-four, with a broken cheekbone, broken wrist and, more often than not, bruised and battered.

The abuse even continued when she was pregnant, with Phillips once hitting her over the head with a stick while she was driving.

Just a week after giving birth, Ms Hams was kicked in the stomach while breastfeeding, with Phillips almost coming into contact with her baby.

He then punched her in the face and broke her cheek.

“His fuse could go from normal to psycho in a split second,” she shared Nine news.

‘He is a disgusting person.’

Mrs Hams said her children were even victims of Phillips’ abuse.

“You don’t forget screams like your children,” she said.

Phillips would also cut her bed and pillows, was a compulsive liar and would monitor Ms Hams’ social media accounts.

Mrs Hams said she kept the abuse a secret from loved ones and would use make-up to cover up bruises.

Terry Phillips is behind bars after assaulting Mrs Hams

She managed to send pictures of her injuries to a friend and eventually reported the abuse to the police.

When Phillips was confronted with evidence of his abuse in a February 2022 police interview, he denied any wrongdoing and claimed it was ‘made up c**p’.

The fridge was even dented after Phillips smashed Mrs Ham’s head into it.

Phillips pleaded guilty to a wide range of charges against Ms Hams, including assault.

He was also found to have threatened to kill a child and admitted assaulting another woman he was dating.

Mrs Hams now works as a paramedic.

Phillips was jailed for nine months and 21 days. Upon his release, he will be placed on a 15-month community order and must complete 20 hours of community service.

He also risks being deported back to the UK.

Shocking images showed the extent of Phillips’ violence against his former partner