The court heard how he ‘made the victim’s life a misery’
A controlling bully made his girlfriend’s life a “misery” after repeatedly accusing her of cheating on him – causing her to “change her behaviour” and stop wearing makeup and certain types of clothes. Things “just got worse” and his worrying antics had a “profound and severe” impact on her, Hull Crown Court heard.
Liam McKenzie, 42, of Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted using controlling and coercive behaviour between June 1, 2022 and January 8 this year as well as causing criminal damage on January 5. He pleaded guilty on the day of a trial.
Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, said that McKenzie was previously known as Stephen Hardy but he had changed his name. He and the woman began talking on Facebook in May and June 2022 and they formed a relationship.
McKenzie later moved into her flat and started working at a gym. He told her to come to the gym with him but he accused a male colleague of flirting with her and “locking eyes” with her.
He also kept video calling her and questioning her about whether she had somebody in the flat. He accused her of looking at people from the flat even though nobody was there.
McKenzie asked her “why she was getting done up for work” and who she was working with. “She felt she had to change her behaviour,” said Mr Donnell.
“She stopped applying makeup and stopped wearing certain clothes to appease him.” McKenzie accused her of looking at people in another flat and having an affair with another person at the gym.
He told her: “I am leaving you. You have been sleeping with other people. I have seen you.” His controlling behaviour continued.
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“Things just got worse from there,” said Mr Donnell. “It led to her changing her behaviour. She began to record incidents on her phone.” Arguments continued. He still accused her of cheating. She woke up and found that the defendant was going through her phone.
“His behaviour was alarming and scary. He would scream and he would shout. There was no physical violence but it was very frightening for her to have to live like this on a daily basis.”
McKenzie threw objects around the flat and he would “kick off” if she went with her friends. The relationship continued until January 5 this year when she left him. A couple of days later, he damaged equipment that she had “bought at great expense for her beauty business”.
Jazmine Lee, mitigating, said that McKenzie had been in custody for about seven months and he had made progress while there. There was no violence towards the woman but his behaviour was “less than polite”.
Judge John Thackray KC told McKenzie: “The impact of your offending has been profound and severe on your victim. You made your victim’s life a misery and this was within a domestic context, which makes it more serious.
“She was entitled to feel safe and secure within that relationship. She might never fully recover from the effects of your offending.”
McKenzie was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, 26 sessions of a probation service domestic abuse programme and 20 days’ rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year restraining order.