CONTROLLING CARLISLE EX-BOYFRIEND CANCELLED VICTIM 999 CALL
A “CONTROLLING” Carlisle man seized a phone from his ex-girlfriend and cancelled a call to police as she sought help.Ryan Park, 33, and the woman had been in a relationship for around 15 years before breaking up in February, the city’s magistrates court heard.
In April, a court made an order which was designed to prevent Park from committing domestic offences against the woman.
But on August 15, Park did break the law during a visit to the woman’s address.
She became aware of Park outside the property.
He was described as intoxicated and made a number of unpleasant comments.
These included calling the woman a “dog”.
He asked to use the toilet which she did let him do,” said prosecutor Scott Parker.
“While in the toilet he smashed the toilet seat.
She called the police straight away.
He realised that and reacted by grabbing the phone off her and hanging up the call.
“He pushed past her, causing no injury.” The woman was given her phone back and again called police, who advised her to lock the door.
She told them she couldn’t as Park had a key for the address although she didn’t know where that key was.
Park took the phone from her for a second time and hung up the latest call.
He left the address and crossed a road to speak with others.
“He was described as being irate.
He came back to the address,” said Mr Parker.
“The phone rang.
He answered it and imitated her voice on the phone.
She said ‘he has got my phone, I can’t speak’.
He again hung up the call and shouted continuously that he would smash the phone.” After comments were exchanged between the pair, Park smashed the phone in half and walked away.
The woman heard police sirens at this stage and Park, of Warwick Road, Carlisle, was arrested.
When brought to court, he pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman by beating, and two charges of criminal damage.
Defence solicitor Duncan Campbell, mitigating, told how both Park and the woman had difficulties in their lives.
Park had been drinking and taking drugs before the incident in August but since then, said Mr Campbell, had taken steps to address substance misuse.
“He believed he had conquered his alcohol and drug usage,” added the solicitor.
But district judge Philip Holden referred to a pre-sentence report, prepared by a probation officer.
This suggested, said the judge, that Park had “not helped himself”, and that the probation service could offer no alternatives to a prison sentence.
The judge imposed an immediate 12-week prison sentence and, referring to Park’s offences in August, said: “Those are elements, in my judgement, of a controlling relationship and an abusive one at that.
“I have no faith that you will comply with any orders of the court.
There is, in my judgement, no realistic prospect you can be rehabilitated or, if given the opportunity of a community order, that you would comply, Mr Park.
Time already served in prison in remand suggested that Park could be released from custody in mid-January, the judge also noted.
