Preston heart attack victim admits coercive behaviour and says his personality changed after coma

Shaun Corey’s personality changed alarmingly after he suffered a massive heart attack and ended up in a coma, a court heard.

The 56-year-old switched from being a loving husband and father to a controlling bully who monitored all his wife’s movements and isolated her from her family and friends.

This week, five years on, he ended up in Preston Crown Court pleading guilty to the coercive behaviour which wrecked his marriage and led his partner to flee to a women’s refuge.

Corey, of The Warren in Fulwood, was given a suspended prison sentence after his now ex-wife urged the judge not to send him to jail.

Tara Riley, prosecuting, said the father of two had met his wife in 2007 and the relationship had initially been happy. They married in 2013 and had a family.

But in 2021 he suffered a heart attack and as he recovered his behaviour towards his wife deteriorated. He started to monitor her whereabouts and became aggressive towards her.

He lost his temper “when she acted in ways that displeased him”. He would constantly check up on her, asking her where she was going, who she was going with and how long she would be.

“She felt she was unable to go anywhere unless he knew her precise movements,” said Miss Riley.

“It had a serious impact on her psychologically and she felt she was unable to go out with friends and also see her family.

“He would put a stop to her going out for meals, he would put barriers in the way.”

Corey’s behaviour had a “serious” impact on her. He would threaten to change the locks and tell her she could sleep on the street. He belittled her in front of people and called her “a loser”.

When her father became unwell, he made it difficult for her to see him. In April 2024 when she was admitted to hospital suffering from a stomach bug he shouted at her aggressively: “Get home now. If you don’t I’ll be upset.”

Corey monitored her mobile phone and got angry if he found emails to friends, claiming she was hiding things from him.

“It ground her down so much she didn’t know who she was,” added Miss Riley.

His controlling behaviour continued until October 2025 when she finally left him, taking the youngest of their two children to a women’s refuge.

Police were called and when he was interviewed he claimed nothing had been going on and he couldn’t understand why she had said what she had.

The prosecution said the abuse had happened over a prolonged period and had been persistent. The alarm and distress his wife suffered had had a substantial effect on her.

“His offending was aggravated by the fact that the victim was effectively made homeless,” added Miss Riley.

Defence barrister Beverly Hackett told the court that in 2021 Corey had suffered from “serious health difficulties which changed his life around and the family‘s life around.

“He accepts that his behaviour deteriorated. After a 20-year marriage the relationship ended in this way.”

She said he had found it difficult to come to terms with. The couple’s two children lived with him in the family home. He was no longer working.

The offence was “out of character” and Hackett said he now “looks back at what he has lost”.

Judge Darren Preston told Corey his conduct had lasted “over a substantial period of time”.

“It seems that the marriage was quite positive up to 2021 when you had a heart attack. After that your behaviour deteriorated. You would check her phone, her whereabouts, shout abuse at her. It was so persistent that she felt utterly worn down.

“This was pernicious behaviour designed to drive the life out of your victim. It caused her to leave her home and family.” He said Corey’s heart attack had been “an extremely serious one”.

He had been in a coma and after that he was put on steroids. After that he suffered mood changes and anger issues.

“So, your illness contributed to your behaviour to some extent. But you refused to accept responsibility for your behaviour.”

Judge Preston said Corey would not be going to prison thanks to his ex-wife. She had expressed a desire that he continued to look after their two children.

“She has (also) said she has no desire to see you in prison. She has shown a great deal more care and understanding than you have over the years.”

He sentenced him to eight months in jail suspended for 12 months. In addition he must attend 20 rehabilitation activity days.

The judge turned down an application for a restraining order saying he didn’t feel it was either necessary or appropriate “on the information I have”.