Control freak’s abuse campaign against partner

THREATENED, STALKED AND ACCUSED HER OF CHEATING

A CONTROL FREAK has been jailed after subjecting his partner to a campaign of abuse, threats and stalking during which he accused her of cheating on him while she was visiting her dying mother.

Paul Brown proposed to the woman within a week then embarked on what she described as a “toxic” relationship which made her life a misery. Newcastle Crown Court heard he subjected her to months of controlling behaviour during which he isolated her from her friends and family, monitored her location, repeatedly accused her of infidelity and spoke to her in derogatory terms.

The woman’s mum was terminally ill so she would visit her weekly and Brown threatened to follow her and regularly accused her of sleeping with other men. On one occasion he messaged her adult son asking where she was and was told she was asleep on the sofa. He didn’t believe that and made the son take a picture of her to prove it.

Brown, 51, of Frobisher Street, Hebburn, South Tyneside, also accessed her phone and social media accounts. During the period between Christmas 2022 and February 2023, he never left her side, continued to accuse her of infidelity and left her feeling isolated. Recorder Nathan Moxon told him: “She said the entire time she was with you, you made her life a misery.”

They split up on Valentine’s Day last year because he said she was not giving him the attention he wanted after her mum died.

In March 2023, he followed her on a motorbike through Bedlington, Northumberland, when she dropped her son off at his father’s home. Her other son saw him tailgating her before he overtook them and gesticulated.

The stalking offence involved Brown sending threatening and offensive messages - including 30 emails and 32 voicemails - as well as attending outside her house twice after they split up.

In the messages, he threatened to report her to social services so she would lose her child. He also called her various abusive names and said he was going to get himself tested for HIV.

He told her: “If I was you, I would watch my back every day of your life. Your kids will get it too.” When she told him to leave her alone, he replied saying she had no chance.

He told her he had seen her taking her son to school one morning and said: “I was going to shout out to tell everyone what you’re like but I will leave that until one day when you pick him up after your s ****** g session”

The court heard his voicemails became increasingly aggressive and threatening. Recorder Moxon told him: “You said you would follow her, you were watching her, you had others watching her. You threatened to assault her and her new partner.

“You said you would never, ever leave her alone. You threatened she would lose her son and that you had called social services”

In April 2023 he turned up outside her house in his car and took pictures of her home, which he emailed her. He returned another day and repeatedly beeped his horn and made a gun-like gesture with his hand toward her.

The judge told him: “Her mental health has been massively impacted. She’s not sleeping or eating properly due to fear.

“She said you left her feeling isolated, lonely and trapped with you and she lost contact with most of her friends. She gets palpitations when the phone rings and is scared to answer.

“She says you made her life a misery.”

Brown pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour. He was jailed for 30 months and given an indefinite restraining order.

Paul Brown