CONTROLLING BOYFRIEND JAILED FOR SECOND SIMILAR OFFENCE
A Penrith man named Kyle Pelham, aged 26, covertly used his partner’s phone to dispatch false and abusive messages that looked as though they came from her, targeting her family and friends.The goal was to isolate her, the Carlisle Crown Court was informed.
Pelham, who had a prior conviction for similar controlling conduct towards another partner, also physically assaulted the teenager and issued threats to set fire to her mother’s and grandmother’s homes.
He acknowledged engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour over a two-month period.
Prosecutor David Polglase explained that the relationship started through Snapchat, with initial meetings at hotels and shared meals.
The woman, now 18, eventually moved into Pelham’s residence, but his controlling tendencies quickly surfaced.
He disapproved of her social outings, especially her drinking with friends, and reacted violently when he saw her with a male companion, pushing her onto a bed and grabbing her face.
Pelham then seized her phone, sending messages to her family indicating she was unwilling to contact them and fabricating communications with friends.
He also changed her phone number, made threats to harm her relatives, and deleted sentimental photos.
His jealous and possessive behaviour intensified.
Her family and friends became worried as she distanced herself, prompting her mother to investigate Pelham’s criminal history.
She found out about his previous sentence for controlling behaviour, which led to the eventual confrontation.
Her daughter revealed everything after breaking down during an encounter.
In her statement, the victim recounted how Pelham pulled her hair, excluded her from social and family events, and barred her from attending a funeral.
The experience left her anxious, with disrupted sleep and strained relationships.
She was also prevented from attending a friend's birthday party due to Pelham’s objections.
Pelham’s past included a 22-month jail term handed down in 2020 for similar conduct.
Defence lawyer Tim Evans argued that the abusive conduct lasted roughly two months and that the case did not proceed to a charge of false imprisonment.
Judge Michael Fanning highlighted that Pelham’s jealousy was at the heart of his abusive actions and viewed his conduct as domestic abuse involving multiple control tactics.
He sentenced Pelham to seven and a half months in prison and imposed a five-year order to prevent any contact with the victim.
