In 2024, the Offender Database recorded that Ryan Turnbull, 29, was jailed for a total of four years and six months for a series of violent and controlling offences against two former partners and a young child. On appearing at Teesside Crown Court, the defendant, of Bessemer Street, Ferryhill, County Durham, was found guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour, intentional strangulation, and multiple counts of assault. It was reported that Turnbull’s pattern of aggression escalated from emotional manipulation to physical attacks involving a child and the near-suffocation of a woman.
The investigation established the obsessive and volatile nature of Turnbull’s conduct. Durham Constabulary reported that in September 2022, during a row with his then-partner of four years, Turnbull grabbed her young son by the arms and threw him to the ground. While the boy lay on the floor crying, Turnbull threw a basketball full force into the child’s face, causing the victim to feel dizzy and distressed. The prosecution reported that even after this relationship ended, Turnbull attempted to apologise 30 times before moving on to target a new victim.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Turnbull’s predatory and paranoid behaviour resurfaced almost immediately in his next relationship. Teesside Crown Court heard how he subjected his second partner to relentless monitoring, repeatedly calling her to check her location and accusing her of affairs. The investigation established that during an assault in mid-2023, Turnbull pinned the woman to a bed and grabbed her by the neck. He released his grip after a minute, only to return and strangle her a second time.
Judge Richard Bennett branded Turnbull a violent bully who created an unpleasant atmosphere for his victims and their families. For his actions in Ferryhill, Turnbull was handed a custodial sentence of four and a half years. The judge noted that Turnbull’s inability to control his temper and his paranoid obsession with his partners made him a significant danger, leading to the imposition of indefinite restraining orders to protect both women.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Ryan Turnbull is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 4 years and 6 months in prison (Sentenced 2024).
- Restraining Order: Indefinite (Protecting two female victims).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Teesside Crown Court following a Durham Constabulary investigation.
- Criminal Record: Coercive and controlling behaviour; Intentional strangulation; Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) on a minor; Common assault.
- Origin: Bessemer Street, Ferryhill, County Durham.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Turnbull is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) to ensure the safety of his survivors and the wider public. Due to the nature of his conduct in County Durham, which involved the assault of a child and the life-threatening strangulation of a partner, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of becoming increasingly physically aggressive in romantic relationships necessitates strict monitoring of his future domestic arrangements and contact.
As a convicted violent offender, Turnbull’s details remain part of the national record. Authorities state that his disregard for the safety of children and his attempts to minimise his actions in pre-sentence reports require permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to breach his indefinite restraining orders, engage in further stalking, or fail to engage with mandatory rehabilitation will result in immediate arrest and an instant return to the prison system.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.