SAM BRIDGEHAM

A construction worker, convicted of emotional abuse by stalking his partner on social media and orchestrating false 999 emergency calls to summon police to her residence during late hours, has been sentenced to prison.

Sam Bridgeham, aged 33, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behavior within an intimate relationship and to violating a non-molestation order that prohibited him from contacting a different woman.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that his pattern of controlling conduct began with name-calling and criticism before escalating to more serious acts such as making hoax emergency calls, a tactic often referred to as swatting.

He also impersonated someone else by adopting a fake accent to threaten her family.

His actions severely impacted his victim, a woman in her 40s from Southwick, who described feeling mentally unstable and as “a shell of her former self.” She also revealed she devoted much of her time trying to appease him.

At Lewes Crown Court last Friday, Bridgeham received a sentence of 25 months for the coercive control and an additional 15 months for breaching the non-molestation order, which was issued in relation to a different woman in Portslade, also in her 40s.

Worthing Investigations' Detective Constable Greg Brown commented: “Bridgeham gradually intensified the emotional manipulation of his then-partner, starting with verbal abuse and constant criticism.

He then monitored her communications and social media, asked her to send pictures to verify her whereabouts, and contacted her friends to surveil her movements.

“He adopted a fake accent to make threatening phone calls to her family and also made fake police calls to have officers visit her home during the night.

Additionally, he repeatedly messaged her from hidden or new phone numbers and left flowers at her door, refusing to accept the end of their relationship.

“His ongoing behavior made her feel unstable and caused significant damage to her relationships with her family.

It wasn’t until June 2018, after numerous distressing incidents, that she ended the relationship and bravely chose to cooperate with the prosecution.

“This case highlights the damaging long-term effects that such malevolent behavior can have on victims, often eroding their self-esteem and leaving them feeling diminished.

“The victim expressed that much of her life was previously dedicated to trying to satisfy Bridgeham.

His continued misconduct, including violating a court order by contacting a former partner, demonstrates that such predatory actions are not isolated cases,” he added.