Harrow thug stuck thumbs in his pregnant girlfriend's eyes and burned her clothes in video 'to get a response'

A violent thug stuck his thumbs in his pregnant ex-girlfriend's eyes and then sent her a video of him burning her clothes after she spurned his affections, a court heard. Nathan Sommerville was jailed for six months at Harrow Crown Court on Monday, June 19, after he was found guilty of assault by beating by a jury at the same court, having already admitted arson and harassment.

The 35-year-old, of Headstone Drive in Wealdstone, would have been jailed for eight months, but Judge Noel Lucas KC was so 'impressed' by Somerville's attempts at reform, he reduced the sentence so he can attend a university course at a music college in September. Sommerville has previously performed at events in Brixton and at the O2 Academy Islington, the court was told.

The career criminal had a troubled youth, in which he amassed 14 convictions for burglary, theft, robbery, GBH, and throwing articles in a prison. In 2010 the then 21-year-old was jailed for nine years for battering an elderly internet café worker during a mobile phone robbery in Neasden. Police caught the mastermind because he had attended the shop to repair his own phone days earlier.

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At Harrow Crown Court on Monday, prosecutor David Ryan said Sommerville's ex-girlfriend was left with a black eye after he forced his thumbs into her eyes during an attack on September 7, 2023. She then left their home to stay with her family, blocked his number, and asked him to stop contacting her, but she received around 40 calls and five emails a day ranging from verbal abuse to apologies.

She then told Sommerville she had aborted their baby. In response, he threatened to throw her things in the street and take his own life, the court heard. "He was escalating the messages to get a reply from her," said Mr Ryan. The victim reported the abuse, but Sommerville continued calling, sent an email to say he was looking for her, and said he had letters from the hospital about their baby.

On October 7, Sommerville sent the victim an email with a video of him burning her clothes in his garden. At Monday's hearing, Sommerville claimed he did it to 'get a response'. Speaking over a video link from Wormwood Scrubs, Sommerville also argued the fire looked big because the camera was zoomed in, and claimed the burning clothes were actually his own.

"I'm not a criminal no more," insisted Sommerville, adding: "Seven years on license in the community, that's a big achievement for someone who used to commit robberies as a juvenile."

As Mr Ryan made submissions on the assault, Sommerville kissed his teeth and said 'That did not even happen bruv'.

He butted in again as Judge Lucas considered his culpability for the arson. "I'm making it easier for them to guess what it is," said Sommerville, "It was not a revenge attack. I was looking for a response and a response is what I got. I got police at my door."

Judge Lucas, the Honorary Recorder of Haringey, warned Sommerville 'You are rather undermining your position' as defence counsel Wendy Barnes urged the court to consider his clean record since 2021, the educational opportunity lined up in September, and his issues with anxiety and PTSD.

Sommerville, who already has an 18-year-old son, became a dad for the second time in March this year. Ms Barnes also said she had been told Sommerville's ex now wanted to reconcile. "I ask you to impose the least sentence available in these circumstances," said the barrister.

'I understand where you are coming from'

Before he passed sentence, Judge Lucas turned to Sommerville to ask him 'Why were you pestering this woman in this way?'. Sommerville claimed he took his ex-girlfriend in when she had nowhere to live, that she got pregnant, and they had plans to raise the child, but she blocked communications and he wanted to know what was happening with his daughter.

"I hear you, I understand where you are coming from," said Judge Lucas. "I do not know the details of your private life, but I deal with a lot of cases with relationships that have gone sour. The one thing I have got to be careful about is protecting women who say no. A lot of men think they do not mean it. My job is protecting women from men like that."

Sommerville replied: "I understand, but I did not understand the severity of what I was doing, so I look back and see it was a bit psychotic."

Judge Lucas said: "Do you see how frightening that must have been, to have you bombard her with messages and stick your thumbs in her eyes."

Sommerville snapped 'I did not do that', but Judge Lucas reminded him 'You were convicted of that', to which Sommerville said 'fair enough'. "You can't start using violence on women, you can't pester them," the judge added.

Passing a sentence of six months for arson - which he described as 'an act of generosity and kindness' - Judge Lucas said: "Were it not for the fact you were recalled to prison, and not for the fact I am impressed you have a place at university you are due to start in September, my sentence would have been considerably longer..."

Sommerville received concurrent sentences of nine weeks for harassment and one day for assault. The judge also refrained from making a restraining order but warned one could be imposed if the prosecution finds it is still wanted by his ex.

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