‘Controlling thug’ who terrorised his partner for a year

HE BEAT HER AND THREATENED TO BURN HER PARENTS’ HOUSE DOWN

THIS controlling thug systematically terrorised his partner for a year subjecting her to regular beatings and controlling every aspect of her life.

Macauley Luke threatened to kill the petrified woman and burn down her parents’ home.

The 25-year-old stopped her seeing her family and friends and took over her bank accounts.

On one occasion the terrified victim shouted at a passer-by for help as she and her abuser waited at some traffic lights in a car. But the man simply ignored her.

Jailing Luke for 18 months, Recorder Adrian Reynolds said: “For the first year of your relationship there were no problems but from the second year you began systematically terrorising her.

“You began to control every aspect of her life – who she saw, who she would go out with.

“You began to assault her – not once, not twice but many times.

“When she finally found the courage to leave you sent her messages threatening to kill her and burn her her.

“It was absolutely dreadful behaviour.

“In your pre-sentence report the probation officer concludes that you pose a high risk of re-offending and I regret to say I completely agree.”

Eunice Opare-Addo, do, prosecut prosecuting, said Luke and the e victim met online and were in a relationship for just st over two years s between April 17 and July 21, 2019.

She said they moved in together and they blossomed for the first year until he started to turn controlling g and violent.

Miss Opare-Addo said:

“He stopped her from seeing her family and stopped her from seeing her friends. He took control of her money and her bank accounts, took her to work and picked her up.

“He told her if she left him he would follow her to her parents’ house and burn it down.”

Miss Opare-Addo said he once locked her out of her own home so she had to sleep in her car. In the early hours of May 4, 2019 they were in bed together, she said, when he suddenly started to attack her, punching her repeatedly.

She said: “On June 27, 2019 there was an argument and he picked up a fridge freezer and threw it at her. He then punched her repeatedly took her to her car and started it. He said he was going to kill her and she believed him.

“The car stopped at a traffic light and she saw a man and started shouting at him to help her but he did not.”

Miss Opare-Addo said on July 21 she managed to leave the house and go to her parents but the next day Luke sent her more threatening messages saying again he would burn the house down.

She said: “The complainant was very frightened by the threats. She was terrified and said she felt mentally unstable.

“In her victim personal statement she says she felt worthless and hopeless as a result of the emotional abuse and repeated assaults.”

Miss Opare Opare-Addo said Luke, of Rowley C Close, Swadlincote, was ar arrested and, in interview view, denied he had do done anything wrong.

But he later pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Eddie Leonard, m mitigating, said: “He is desperate to prove he can be a healthy mem member of society putting righ right his wrongs.”

You began to control every aspect of her life – who she saw, who she would go out with.

Recorder Adrian Reynolds