CONTROLLING MAN WAS SO JEALOUS HE BEAT UP HIS GIRLFRIEND IN HER HOME
A woman’s boyfriend exhibited extreme jealousy and controlling he would force her to hug and kiss him ahead of her own children.Clint Barrett also required her to 'check in' upon arriving at work and dictated her clothing choices, limiting what she could wear.
Barrett, who met his Polish ex-partner in July 2023, initially had a healthy relationship, but it deteriorated after they moved in together.
The relationship became marked by jealousy, anger, and violence.
During a hearing at Truro Crown Court on Monday, November 17, it was recounted how Barrett demanded her to translate Polish conversations with friends and family, under the suspicion that she was unfaithful a false accusation he refused to believe otherwise.
Court documents revealed that Barrett’s jealousy often turned violent and abusive, both verbally and physically.
The 47-year-old resident of Green Parc Road, Hayle, controlled her dressing to prevent her clothes from being 'too revealing.' In December of the previous year, she was home with her children preparing to attend Barrett’s boxing match when his temper boiled over.
He assaulted her by banging her head against a wall, throwing her across the room, and kneeing her in the stomach, causing severe pain.
When she screamed, Barrett grabbed her neck with his hands, making her unable to breathe.
She managed to escape by kicking him, but he continued to verbally abuse her and punched her in the jaw.
The incident led her to stay with her brother temporarily.
She returned to Barrett’s residence after a few days, but he beat and assaulted her again.
On another occasion, during a pub pool and dart competition in Penzance, Barrett’s jealousy resurged as he accused her of ignoring him and started insulting her.
He physically grabbed her by the arm and pinched her stomach, prompting security staff to eject him from the venue.
In court, the woman read a victim impact statement describing how the abuse damaged her physical and mental health, leading to financial hardship because she could no longer work as an agency nurse.
She was registered homeless for a time, sleeping in her car and unable to see her children.
She has suffered from anxiety, depression, and PTSD over the past year, with daily struggles including self-harm, panic attacks, nightmares, night terrors, and social anxiety.
She expressed fears that her trust in men has been broken and that her safety remains at risk.
Once happy and social, she now lives in constant hyper-vigilance, affecting her children as well.
She lamented losing a part of herself to the violence, stating, 'I am afraid of him.' Barrett was arrested and faced charges including assault causing actual bodily harm, coercive and controlling behaviour in an intimate relationship, and common assault.
He has five previous convictions for similar domestic offenses since 2013, involving battery, violence, criminal damage, and malicious communications.
He pleaded guilty to all charges at his recent trial.
His defence attorney, Hollie Gilbery, argued that Barrett was capable of change and was actively working on his jealousy issues through hypnotherapy.
She emphasized his work ethic and previous efforts to reform.
However, Recorder Serena Gates dismissed these claims, affirming that Barrett’s history and the nature of his offenses warranted imprisonment to prevent further harm.
She acknowledged some remorse but stressed that his controlling and violent tendencies required a custodial sentence.
The court sentenced Barrett to 30 months’ imprisonment, with half to be served before parole eligibility.
A five-year restraining order was also imposed to protect the victim.
