Abuser jailed after failing to learn his lesson

A man who harassed and continued to control his ex-girlfriend despite having a restraining order against him has been jailed.

James Marriott, 36, was given the strict court order preventing him from contacting the woman for a year on 18 June.

Just one week later, police received a call from a worried friend of the woman reporting concern for her.

The woman had confided in her that Marriott had been visiting her at her Cambridge home since his release from prison.

He had been verbally abusive from the outset, had pressured and bullied her into sending him money and had messaged her daily.

Police visited the woman, who then elaborated on the scale of Marriott’s behaviour. Her phone revealed dozens of calls, extensive messages and his behaviour also revealed a pattern of control.

Marriott told her she wasn’t allowed friends, regularly accused her of cheating, and would get angry if he wasn’t saved on her phone as “my husband”.

The woman also confided in officers that Marriott berated her for speaking to other people and isolated her from her friends, causing her to begin to feel “deluded and crazy” and question her own sanity.

He also raised his fist after shouting at her, causing her to cover her head with her hands for two minutes out of fear. Further evidence revealed Marriott had threatened to hurt a friend who had posted a photo of himself with the woman.

Police arrested Marriott at Cambridge Railway Station on 29 July, after texts revealed he was on his way to see the woman once again.

Marriott, of Toppesfield Gardens, Hadleigh, Ipswich, was charged with harassment by breaching a restraining order and coercive and controlling behaviour.

He admitted the offences and was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday (24 September) where he was handed a total of one year and eight months behind bars.

DC William Kerslake, who investigated, said: “Marriott’s behaviour was clearly having a detrimental impact on his victim’s life and it’s also clear he’d failed to learn his lesson after being handed a restraining order.

“No person should have to suffer this kind of abuse and this case helps to highlight that domestic abuse isn’t always just physical.

“Victims can suffer from the threat and fear of injury, daily intimidation and having every aspect of their life monitored and controlled. Coercive control is a criminal offence, and as this case also highlights, we take all reports of it very seriously.

“We would strongly urge anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse to contact police or call the national domestic violence helpline on 0808 2000 247.”

To report concerns or for more advice and support on domestic abuse, including coercive control, visit the force’s dedicated web pages.