ALFRED —A former University of New England student has been sentenced to 45 days in jail from charges of criminal restraint and domestic violence assault stemming from an incident that occurred in a dormitory room at the Biddeford campus in April 2017.

Nicholas Norton, 20, of Massachusetts, was sentenced at York County Superior Court by Justice Wayne Douglas on Friday to 364 days in jail with all but 45 days suspended and two years of probation.

Douglas’s sentence fell in between what the two sides requested. Assistant York County District Attorney Thomas Miscio asked the court to give Norton a sentence of 364 days with all but 90 days suspended and two years probation. Norton’s attorney Luke Rouix, he asked for a sentence that would have kept him out of jail – a sentence of six months suspended.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Norton’s dormitory room in the early hours of April 30, 2017 after he and his then-girlfriend, Summer Bishop, attended a concert at the University of New England campus in Biddeford.

Norton was angry with Bishop for being late to let him into the dormitory building and continued to call her names when they were both upstairs in his dormitory room, according to testimony from Bishop in September. She said she tried to leave the room but he stood between her and the door, and put his hands on her blocking her exit. She said he then shoved her on the floor and told her to be quiet and put his hands on her nose and mouth and his fingers down her throat and up her nose.

Bishop said she was scared that she was not going to be able to leave the room, but was able to leave after the residential adviser came to the door.

Bishop said in court on Friday that she had dated Norton from January 2017 to April 30, 2017. She said Norton was very manipulative, and she felt isolated from her friends, and there were times when he threatened to send her to a psychiatric ward if she didn’t do what he told her.

“That relationship was very abusive in many ways – emotionally, verbally, physically,” she said. “I really didn’t see how bad the situation was, until the night of April 30 (2017). That was the worst night of my life.”

She said she felt incredibly helpless and if not for the help of her residential assistant, she might not be alive today.

She said she suffered many injuries from the incident in Norton’s dorm room, including a concussion, bruises on her face and arms, a swollen, sore throat, and petechia — red and purple spots caused by lack of oxygen — all over her face.

She said she hasn’t fully healed from the concussion, and still has headaches and memory loss. She said she has to rely on pictures and videos to remember what activities she has done with her friends and she went from being a straight-A student to one who is on academic probation.

“It makes me feel like I can’t finish college, even though I have so many plans for the future,” she said.

According to Bishop, she also has nightmares and suffers from insomnia. She said she feels like she’s lives in pain and fear while Norton has led a normal life. She said she believed Norton should get jail time to help him process what he’s done and to punish him and help prevent him from abusing others in the future.

Norton’s current girlfriend, Mercedes Tredeau, said on Friday that Norton has been very supportive through difficult times. She said he is a big motivator to her and his encouragement is helping her get through college.

Norton’s friend and co-worker, Herbie Tirrell, said Norton babysits his children and is the type of person who will always drop what he’s doing to help a friend out.

“He’s just an outstanding person. I would trust him with my life and with my kids’ lives,” he said.

Norton’s mother, Kristin Norton, said she is not only Nicholas Norton’s parent, but also his boss and that he is one of her best employees.

She said when her son left home to go to college, he was very naive but he had changed and grown up a lot in the past 18 months.

“Clearly, Nick did not make the right choice,” she said.

Kristin Norton said her son has felt regret and remorse since the incident in April 2017.

She asked Douglas not to impose a prison sentence. She said her son had enrolled in a domestic violence intervention program and was willing to take the time to educate himself. She said if he went to jail he would likely lose his job.

“This entire legal process has changed his demeanor. It has made him grow up very quickly,” she said.

While in court in September, Nicholas Norton had denied that the argument between he and Bishop had gotten physical, but he said on Friday that he took responsibility for his actions and should not have put his hands on Bishop.

“I am deeply sorry,” he said.

He too, said the circumstances had forced him to grow up quickly, and he had steered away from alcohol. He said working as a service technician at an auto-body shop, he’s learned to deal with stressful situations.

Douglas described Norton’s behavior on April 30, 2017 as “a violent, irrational display of anger.” He said there were two previous reports to UNE security of Norton inflicting violence or injury on Bishop.

Douglas said if Norton had indeed matured, he would be able to withstand the court’s punishment.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 780-9015 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.