Nigerian-born rugby player jailed in the UK for subjecting former girlfriend to horrific abuse

Daniel Igbinedion, a Nigerian-born professional rugby player, was sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for abusing his ex-girlfriend and threatening to take her life.

Igbinedion, 26, was convicted in October of controlling and coercive behavior, as well as three counts of assault.

On Tuesday, December 21, the former West Yorkshire rugby league player was sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

Katy Lyles, 35, was the victim of multiple Igbinedion attacks over a two-year period, Bradford Crown Court heard.Igbinedion also took the insurance broker out of a club and ripped off her SmartWatch, preventing her from dialing 999, before threatening her with a razor.Lyles, who was in an 18-month romance with prop forward, spoke up about her suffering.

She told reporters during her sentencing that when she first met the former Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers, and Dewsbury Rams player, she thought he was a “nice man” but gradually developed “possessive and jealous” tendencies.Igbinedion first met Katy when he took on the role of her personal trainer at her local gym.

“About six months into our relationship, he became physically violent, demonstrating to me that he possessed a dark side,” she explained.

“He threatened me, and I was terrified of what he would do to me and my family. He imprisoned me and pursued me everywhere.
He proposed to me and even stated that if I accepted a promise ring from him, he would never harm me again. I declined his proposal, and months later, he attempted to assassinate me.”Between May 2018 and March 2020, Igbinedion, who was arrested in December 2020, committed the abuse.

Judge Andrew Hatton stated that Igbinedion had accused Katy of being disrespectful to him, and it was evident that he perceived himself to be rather unique among professional or semi-professional athletes.

Judge Hatton sentenced Igbinedion to three years and three months in prison, stating: “I must prosecute you for this continuous pattern of behavior, which includes gross acts of assault against a backdrop of dominating and oppressive behavior.“This entire list of offenses was so terrible that only a jail sentence is justifiable.”

He stated that Katy testified with dignity and in a compelling and remarkable manner during the trial.

Judge Hatton also imposed a five-year restraining order on Igbinedion, prohibiting him from contacting the complainant directly or indirectly.