CONTROLLING RUNCORN BULLY FROZE PARTNER’S BANK ACCOUNT
A BULLY has been locked up by a judge over the serious impact his controlling behaviour had on his partner.The court heard from prosecutor Joanne Moore that the behaviour occurred in Runcorn and spanned a period of more than two years, between February 2022 and November 25.
Ditchfield repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour towards the victim that was controlling or coercive.
He made her financially dependent on him, checking her receipts and freezing her bank account so that she could not spend any money.
The defendant also made the victim delete her Facebook account, and he would become physical toward her during their relationship.
The court hears that he would blame her for things, and he would threaten to kick her out of her home when she argued or refused his requests.
Through his plea, Ditchfield admitted that his behaviour had a serious effect on his partner, and that he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour would have such a serious impact on her.
Before sentencing, judge Simon Berkson highlighted that the offending behaviour was so serious that the custody threshold had been passed.
He concluded that the offence was so serious that appropriate punishment could only be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.
Ditchfield, of Silkstone Crescent in Runcorn, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, to be served immediately.
The court also imposed a 10-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim and entering a named Runcorn location, and he was told that he must pay a victim surcharge of £156.
