MAN JAILED FOR CONTROLLING AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS EX
The woman, who moved to escape her dominating boyfriend, was later pursued by him, who taunted her with the remark, "Guess who lives in Wakefield now?" In a troubling case, Daniel Barker had stolen £1,850 and exerted control over her from February 2023 to January this year.Leeds Crown Court heard that her awareness of Barker’s changing behaviour surfaced early in 2023.
Prosecutor Deborah Smithies explained: "He persistently asked for money and then took it without her consent or notice.
Cash started to disappear, prompting her to hide it—once in a sock—but he found it, often when she was asleep, and took it." The court also heard that Barker took her bank card for withdrawals.
When she confronted Barker, he denied all knowledge of her accusations.
Ms.
Smithies described him, 34 years old with no fixed address, as continuing to behave aggressively and controlling her, refusing her contact with friends.
She further stated that he accused her of infidelity and threatened to report her to her housing officer and destroy her possessions.
One frightening episode involved him taking her keys, preventing her from entering her home, leading her to hide in the bathroom to call police.
Barker left before officers arrived; she believed he was free for around two to three days, during which he repeatedly visited her family’s residence, left notes, and asked for food.
Police later informed her that Barker had been jailed for about six weeks after breaching an order.
During his imprisonment, he made approximately 20 apologetic calls.
After his release, Barker approached her flat in December 2023, knocking on her window and ringing the intercom, making the ominous comment, "Guess who lives in Wakefield now?" Despite her pleas for him not to come back, she encountered him again in the street while out with friends.
His repeated unwanted approaches caused her distress, and shortly after, he made five phone calls, threatening to involve acquaintances in Wakefield to find and harm her.
Barker’s arrest led to his conviction of coercive and controlling behaviour at the magistrates' court.
In her victim statement, the woman shared her fear of being alone and her avoidance of certain social venues since the incident.
Barker has a history of 13 convictions for 20 offences, including harassment of an ex-partner, motivated by his desire to see his three children.
Defence solicitor Nick Hammond noted that Barker had no previous offences related to the current complainant.
Barker is serving time for a robbery committed earlier this year, due for release in April next year.
The judge, Recorder Legard, sentenced Barker to 10 months’ imprisonment, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and safety within relationships.
A five-year restraining order was also issued to prevent him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.
