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14
May 2021
Vicious control freak jailed for military-like control of ex-partner
A vicious control freak has been jailed after preventing his pregnant partner from getting pain relief during labour and assuming military-like command of her day-to-day life, which included having to text him for permission to use the toilet.
During a 17-month period, the Harrogate woman was told when she could go out and with whom, was banned from speaking to family members and forced to make a daily list of “promises” to “obey his instructions”, York Crown Court heard.
The woman, who was 17 at the time, was also made to seek permission to use the toilet or have a drink and forced to record herself inside the lavatory to prove “that was what she was doing”, said prosecutor Matthew Collins.
Her partner’s cruelty came to a head when she became pregnant and he denied her midwifery care and pain relief for the birth of their baby daughter.
The tyrannical military man, who is in his 20s, even assaulted her during her labour at Harrogate District Hospital, added Mr Collins.
On other occasions, he forced her to hit herself and threatened to harm or kill her and the baby if she went to the police.
He was ultimately arrested and charged with assault and coercive or controlling behaviour. He admitted the offences and appeared for sentence yesterday.
Mr Collins told the court:
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Grabbed her throat during labour
In December last year, he assaulted her while she was in labour by grabbing her by the throat.
Mr Collins added:
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was “always on edge (around her now ex-partner), scared I would do the wrong thing”. She added:
She said she was now in the habit of asking people “for things I shouldn’t have to ask for because I’ve always had to ask (her ex-partner) to do simple things, like, ‘Can I go to the toilet?’, or ‘Can I have a drink?’”.
Intended to humiliate and degrade
Just before his arrest while he was under investigation, she even bought herself a self-defence kit in case he came looking for her.
Mr Collins said:
He said the woman had had to endure the “fear and trauma” of her child potentially being removed from her care due to her ex-partner’s behaviour and social services becoming involved. The child is still under the woman’s care. He added:
Her ex-partner had a previous conviction for domestic violence and abuse from 2013.
Disgraced soldier
Kevin Blount, for the defendant, whose name cannot be revealed to protect the victim, said his client was an enlisted soldier and was remorseful for his “intimidatory” behaviour. He added:
Judge Simon Hickey criticised the disgraced soldier for “refusing hospital staff the chance to examine your victim” during her labour. He said:
Jailing him for 18 months, Mr Hickey told the defendant:
The judge also made a 10-year restraining order banning the defendant contacting or approaching the victim.
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