DAVID HAWTHORNE

A man used a screwdriver to seal the windows of his flat in an effort to prevent his partner from leaving, a court was told.

David Hawthorne, 45, from Lilac Drive in Lowestoft, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court to be sentenced.

He had admitted to coercive control charges related to a woman he was involved with from May to November of the previous year.

The court heard that the couple met through mutual friends, and their initial month together was reportedly positive.

However, the relationship declined after Hawthorne started drinking excessively and physically assaulted her.

It was noted that the woman was particularly vulnerable at this time, having previously suffered a neck fracture.

Hawthorne persisted in verbally abusing his partner, calling her names such as “pub rat,” and used a screwdriver to block her from leaving by sealing her window.

He reportedly kept her locked inside her flat for several days.

Additionally, he pressured her into purchasing alcohol for himself and a friend, and refused to return her phone and bank card.

When she finally canceled her card using another phone, she discovered that he had withdrawn £120.

Furthermore, Hawthorne faced charges for driving while intoxicated and driving while disqualified.

In May, he was recognized riding a motorcycle by an off-duty police officer who was aware of his previous driving bans.

In September, he was again caught driving without proper authorization, with a positive drug test revealing cocaine use.

His arrest also triggered the activation of a previously suspended sentence from 2022, imposed for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

On Tuesday, Judge Richard Kelly sentenced Hawthorne.

He received a 21-month sentence for coercive control.

The court activated his 2022 suspended sentence, adding 17 months, for a total of 38 months to serve; Hawthorne will serve half of this period.

For the drug-related driving offenses, he was sentenced to two and four months, respectively, with these sentences running concurrently.

Additionally, Hawthorne was banned from contacting his former partner and disqualified from driving for two years.

A £228 surcharge was also imposed to support victims’ services.