Mum-of-four Nadine met an 'affectionate' man online who 'love bombed' her. But in 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 southeastern Victoria, has opened up about her relationship with Terry Phillips, who she said was at first very affectionate and 'love bombing'.

The pair met online but within less than six months, Phillips turned 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 she gave birth, Ms Hams was kicked in the stomach while breastfeeding, with Phillips almost making contact with her baby.

He then punched her in the face, breaking her cheek. 

'His fuse could go from normal to a psychopath within a split second,' she told Nine News. 

'He is a disgusting human being.'

Ms Hams said her children were even victims of Phillips' abuse.

'You don't forget screams like that of your children,' she said.

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

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

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

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

Dents were even left in the fridge after Phillips slammed Ms Hams' head into it.

Phillips pleaded guilty to a long list of charges against Ms Hams including assault.

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

Ms Hams now works as a paramedic.

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

He also faces the risk of being deported back to the UK.