CONTROLLING BULLY ASSAULTED PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND AND THREATENED HER FAMILY
A father-to-be has been remanded in custody after abusing his pregnant girlfriend.Samuel Wilton controlled his partner throughout their relationship between March and October last year.
The North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard that Wilton also beat his then-partner while she was carrying his child on September 26.
While on bail for his crimes, Wilton then made a number of alarming phone calls to the victim’s mother on October 30.
Prosecutor Jo Fox told the court: “The victim and the defendant were in a relatively short relationship.
During that time, he was quite controlling.
He would berate her and demand sex.
He often asked her for drug money, which pushed her into financial dire straits.
She considered shoplifting to feed her baby as a result.
He would take her phone and come into the bathroom while she was having a shower.
She felt like she had no privacy.
The effect of this was that she stopped taking care of herself.
She stopped showering because he kept pestering her for sex.” In a statement shared with the court, the victim said: “I suffer frequent panic attacks and nightmares.
My confidence is really low as I re-live everything on a regular basis.
The Claire’s Law search revealed he has done this kind of thing several times before.
He tried to separate me from my friends and family.
I worried about the safety of my unborn daughter as he tried to punch me in stomach so I would lose the baby.
My daughter has seen much of his abuse first-hand and I am worried about the effect it has had on her.
She witnessed many of the frequent calls he made to my mother.
I want to make sure he can never make another woman or her family feel like this again.” Following his arrest in October, Wilton set about threatening the victim’s mother.
She said: “I was at the play area with my daughter and granddaughter.
It was the first time we had felt able to go out in months after he appeared to be complying with his bail conditions.
But he began calling me while I was with my children.
I called my husband and told him what was happening, which I knew would make him upset.
I wanted to go home before realising we wouldn’t feel safe there either.
My daughter started crying and I was very worried about her because she is pregnant.
When we were back home, Sam made another threatening phone call and I had to call 999.
We are a law-abiding family and I never thought we would have to be so familiar with the criminal justice system.
My daughter used to be so confident and carefree, but this has ruined her life.
My granddaughter now asks me if the doors are locked because she worries about the ‘bad guy’ getting in.
I feel guilty that I didn’t do a Claire’s Law search when he first entered our lives.” Wilton, of Barrie Gardens, initially denied assault by beating, engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour and intimidating a witness, but later pled guilty.
Nicola Bell, mitigating, said that Wilton is working to address issues stemming from a traumatic upbringing.
Ms Bell told the court: “Mr Wilton’s age, the shortness of the relationship, his naivety, the lack of planning, taught behaviours from his upbringing and his lack of experience in relationships all go in his favour.
This wasn’t behaviour which dragged on for years and years in a marital setting, which reduces his culpability.
His time in custody has had a big impact on him.
He has been bullied and assaulted.
Children from deprived emotional and financial backgrounds are disproportionately in the custodial system.
His adverse childhood experiences, broken education, abuse and time in the foster care system have all had a profound effect on him.
He is aware that this relationship is over.
He is not looking to enter another relationship until he has addressed the root of his issues.” Magistrates deferred Wilton for sentencing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court at a later date.
He continues to be held in remand.
