Nicole said she decided to tell her loved ones about the abuse, and with their support they began to form a plan to help her escape.
“I couldn’t take it anymore,” she said. “I didn’t want my child to grow up and believe that this is how a normal family functions.”
But before she was able to leave on her own terms, Nicole was attacked by Bulman in a public place, in front of her colleagues and strangers.
Video footage of the attack had been caught on a dash cam and had been circulating, so Nicole decided to go to the police.
She was able to leave Bulman when her child was three months old.
On 18 September, Bulman sentenced at Bolton Crown Court to 15 years with a further five on licence.
He must serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole and will be subject to a restraining order to protect Nicole and her immediate family for a minimum of 20 years.
“Part of me felt bad at the fact that this is my child’s dad. This is my ex-partner, this is somebody who I thought I would be with forever. “There was a point where we got engaged,” Nicole said.
“But at the same time I was thankful. I was really happy with the conviction and the sentence because it justifies and it validates everything that happened.”
She added: “The length of time that I was silent about it for was ridiculous.
“I want other people to see it and know there’s always a way out, even if it’s extremely difficult, even if it’s risky, you’ve got kids, you’re being financially controlled, you’re being manipulated.
“Even if you might be afraid.
“I was petrified about doing it, but it makes you feel free.
“You can breathe again.”