Partner pushed down stairs by ‘controlling’ man
A “CONTROLLING” and “aggressive” man pushed his partner down the stairs and would threaten to take her children away, a court has heard.
Scott James would “limit his partner’s access to money, get angry if she didn’t respond to his calls and messages” and would “push her, grab her arms” and “throw her about” during their four-year relationship.
Cardiff Crown Court heard the 29-year-old pushed his partner down the stairs resulting in an injury to her elbow.
Emma Harris, prosecuting, said that on November 12 last year the pair argued and James told his partner to leave the house and as a result she went to stay with her father. The next day James turned up at the property and told his partner to return home to “shower and change” which she did.
He asked his victim to stay at their home but she told him that she was going out with friends which resulted in James punching doors at the property.
James pushed his partner down the stairs, where she injured her elbow, before she left to continue staying with her father.
He was arrested on November 17 and during a police interview accused his partner of “being on a crack binge” and said that “she had fallen down the stairs taking drugs”.
He accepted there had been occasions where he had previously pushed her.
James, of Turberville Street, Maesteg, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour. He has a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in September last year.
William Bebb, mitigating, said his client had begun a counselling course which he had found “extremely beneficial” and explained he understood that “change needs to come from himself”.
Recorder Gareth Doig told James that his actions and threatening behaviour had had a “considerable” impact on his partner.
He said: “As time went on your behaviour became more controlling and you would threaten her and threaten the children would be removed from her.
“In November 2020 you asked her to return home and when she said she wanted to go out with friends you started punching doors and you would control, at times, her access to money. Your behaviour has had a considerable impact on her.”
James was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. A three-month curfew was also imposed between the hours of 9pm and 5.30am.
He was also ordered to carry out a 12-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 30 sessions of a programme requirement.
He was ordered to pay £850 in costs and a £140 victim surcharge.