Man who attacked girlfriend ordered to stay away from her for 10 years
COURT HEARS OF HIS CONTROLLING BEHAVIOUR
A WOMAN was subjected to shocking violence by a boyfriend who accused her of being unfaithful to him.
Joe Ireland appeared before Nottingham Crown Court for offences of assault by beating, threatening to damage property, assault causing bodily harm, and using controlling or coercive behaviour between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020.
The coercive and controlling behaviour began after he returned from a “lads’ holiday” in the Greek islands, the court was told.
Ireland, 24, of Woodfield Close, Broxtowe Estate, found out she had added a male friend on Facebook and they argued, with him pushing her and wrongly accusing her of being unfaithful.
Chris Jeyes, prosecuting, said: “He was saying he was going on Facebook to talk to other girls. She deleted all her male friends and then deleted her Facebook account.”
After another argument, he accused her of infidelity, pulled her hair and got her in a headlock.
They stayed together and moved in together in April 2020 but “it was different from the start”, explained Mr Jeyes. “He insisted on her staying in to keep the house tidy, insisted she cook for him and would tell her that the family hated her.”
The assault by beating offence happened on July 20 last year when he pulled her hair, pulled her to the floor and punched her in the eye.
On September 22 last year, she decided to leave and sent him pictures of how the house was cleaned but he said he would “smash everything up so she could not have it”.
By September 28, after she went back to him, he went to strangle her and she threw a bottle at him. He pulled her hair and pulled her by her recently pierced ears and pushed his fingers down her throat to stop her screaming, the court heard.
Ireland was given a two-year prison sentence for coercive and controlling behaviour, suspended for two years. Lesser concurrent sentences, also part of the suspended sentence, were passed on the remaining charges.
References to the court from those close to him spoke highly of him.
The judge said a letter from him “says that you apologise and that you are beside yourself with regret”.
Ireland has spent four months in custody on remand and appeared on video link from HMP Nottingham. He now has to complete a “building better relationships programme”, 15 rehabilitation days, and be subject to a ten-year restraining order not to have direct contact with his now ex-partner.
To report domestic abuse to Nottinghamshire Police, please call 101 or, in an emergency, always call 999.