Woman ‘held hostage’ in fiend’s bed room and repeatedly raped for 2 months
Jasmin-Mae Grindley, 24, was ‘held hostage’ by boyfriend Michael Ball for two months where he repeatedly raped and abused her before he was jailed for 19 years
A young woman has bravely told how she was ‘held hostage’ by her boyfriend (Image: )
A brave young woman has spoken out about being “held captive” by her boyfriend for two months in a bedroom where he repeatedly raped her. Jasmin-Mae Grindley, 24, endured mental and physical torment over a four-month period at the hands of her then-partner Michael Ball, 31, a court heard.
Between October 2020 and January 2021, Grindley was beaten, slapped, throttled, and psychologically manipulated, Bolton Crown Court was told.
For two months, from November 28, 2020 to January 19, 2021, Grindley was imprisoned in a bedroom and subjected to horrific abuse by Ball, who threatened to murder her if she attempted to escape, the court heard.
Ball, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to 19 years behind bars in November 2025 for four counts of rape – including two counts of rape and one of coercive behaviour towards Grindley. Grindley has chosen to forfeit her legal right to anonymity to inspire others to come forward.
She revealed that Ball “dictated” every aspect of her existence, confiscating her mobile phone, prohibiting her from social events, and compelling her to leave her job as a carer. Grindley, also from Wigan, described how he sexually assaulted her while she was asleep.
She said: “I was scared for my life and was under his constant control. I was punched, kicked, strangled, sexually abused, and raped.
“He kept me in a cage like an animal or if I was outside he would stalk me – he never left my side. I think he is an evil monster but I feel sorry for him as the abuse he put me through is what he must think is love.
“I don’t think his sentence was enough, if it were my choice he would have gotten life. Looking back I should have stood up for myself but I was blinded by his charm.”
Grindley first encountered Ball on October 6, 2020, in a local pub. She recalled that initially, Ball was “very charming, kind, and approachable” showering her with gifts.
She shared: “He took me to Blackpool Pleasure Beach twice, he paid for takeaways, and bought me clothes. I was vulnerable at the time, I was only a teenager.
“I fell for his charm, and was blinded by him – he used his charm to pull me in and once I was there he controlled me. I liked the attention I got, I finally felt wanted.”
The chilling abuse began just 10 days after their meeting while she was staying over at Ball’s mother’s house, Grindley revealed. She recounted: “It started off with him grabbing, punching, and slapping me.
“It was short bursts lasting seconds – one minute he would be calm, the next there would be anger. But over the following months they then became longer and longer, sometimes lasting up to 30 minutes of him beating me.
“I kept believing him when he apologised for what he did – I don’t know why. One time he bought me a huge bouquet of flowers after he battered me and I accepted.”
Grindley also disclosed the emotional abuse she endured, with Ball controlling her clothing choices and movements, as heard in court. She said: “If I were to wear skinny jeans or leggings, he would call me a slag and say that I was attracting attention.
“I spent most of my time in his tracksuits.” In November, Grindley’s mum “dragged” her to the police station after she returned home covered in bruises.
She said: “I was close with my mum and she was worried. I didn’t want to press charges because I thought I loved him.
“I was under his spell and didn’t think what he had done was wrong. He had also told me many times that if I go to the police he would kill me so I didn’t say a word.”
Just weeks later, he imprisoned her in a room at his mate’s house for two months and smashed her phone so she couldn’t reach friends. Grindley revealed Ball would block the doors with suitcases to prevent her escaping the “filthy” bedroom where he held her captive, denying her access to food or toilets.
During her confinement she became disoriented, eventually missing Christmas, New Year’s, and her mum’s birthday. At one stage he even trapped her inside a suitcase.
She said: “If I needed a wee I had to do it in a cup and throw it out the window. Or if I needed to go to the toilet, he would sit on the bath and wait for me to be done.
“If I wanted a bath he told me that he had to be in the tub with me. He would only feed me chips or a microwave burger every other day.
“I was completely under his control and I couldn’t say no as if I did he would threaten to kill me.” Grindley told the court that by this stage the beatings were “daily”.
She revealed she started to “wake up to what was happening” to her, but then the sexual assault occurred, the court was told. She stated: “He would beg me for sex and I would tell him no until I would give in as it was persistent and the safest thing I could do.
“I woke up to him raping me whilst I slept which was just horrific as there was nothing I could do to stop him. On another occasion he told me to stand up next to a wall and he proceeded to rape me.
“It was easier for me to just let him do it as I feared he would kill me otherwise.” Grindley’s ordeal came to an end on January 19 during a house party when Ball had left the property.
She explained she rushed downstairs and telephoned her nan, who is in her 70s, who then contacted the police leading to Ball’s arrest. Ball was subsequently charged with five counts of rape, one count of control and coercion, and a Section 47 assault against Grindley.
He was later convicted of two counts of rape and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour. The remaining three rape charges and the assault allegation were dropped after Grindley said she “froze” whilst giving evidence during the trial.
Photographs of her injuries were presented in court, however he wasn’t charged in connection with them. Grindley said officers never provided an explanation for why this occurred.
Ball was also found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour against another victim from Lancashire. He is registered on the sex offenders’ register.
Grindley revealed that when he was sentenced, she let out a massive “yelp”, adding “it was the best day of my life”.
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