Domestic violence victim fears for life

Those were the harrowing words of a domestic violence victim in a statement read to a court as her ex-partner was sentenced for two terrifying assaults.

As Lee Daniel Hunt, 20, of Maylands Square, Morecambe, sobbed and shook in the dock at Preston Crown Court, angry judge Christopher Cornwall ordered: “Stay seated, take a deep breath and get a grip of yourself.

“You’re portraying yourself as someone who has been at a disadvantage in life but hang on - what about her?

“She didn’t deserve the manner in which you treated her. You weren’t some sort of pathetic individual when you were dealing with her. You were nasty, you were controlling and you were manipulative and that is unacceptable.”

Hunt admitted two counts of common assault on March 10 and May 13.

The court heard his young victim, 18, began a relationship in March 2014 when she was 17 and living in a hostel after arguing with her mother.

Prosecuting, Craig McGregor said: “He would go on at her making her cry. He would grind her down and stop her seeing friends.

“They separated but got back together. She moved into his flat in June 2014. She describes in some detail a volatile relationship.”

He said Hunt had punched his victim three times during a row about her going out, calling her ‘vile and disgusting’.

He added: “The relationship continued in this vein until May. He was very controlling, refusing to let her take part in her hobby which was swimming. Things came to a head when she said she was leaving on May 13.”

The court heard Hunt said: “You’re not going” and threw her bag out of the window.

He slapped her face three times, pushed her onto the bed as she was screaming.

He then grabbed her round the throat and squeezed her neck, telling her to be quiet.

Defending, Darren Halsted said he had symptoms of borderline personality disorder though not diagnosed, and that his behaviour flowed from his personal difficulties.

Judge Cornwall said it would be unhelpful to send him to custody but warned: “There will come a time when you will leave the court with no alternative. It cannot go on and on and on forever - it has got to stop.”

He imposed a three-year community order with a restraining order, 100 hours rehabilitation requirement and a £60 surcharge.