A father-of-three who controlled his partner by choosing what she wore and who she could see for 10 years has been jailed.
Daniel Bishopp, 24, would make his girlfriend wear men’s clothing and banned her from putting on make-up during a decade of domestic abuse.
The couple met as teenagers but Bishopp quickly became violent and throttled her when he became angry. He set down rules telling her how she should dress and who she could speak to as he became increasingly paranoid that she was going to leave him.
The final straw came in October last year when Bishopp, who smokes cannabis to help him sleep, woke up ‘in a mood’, grabbed his girlfriend by the throat, pinned her against the wall and lifted her up so she was standing on tiptoes and barely able to breathe.
He eventually let go of her then slapped her around the back of the head as she left the room. She believes that he was reacting after he finally gave her permission to get a job two days earlier.
Prosecutor Katy Rafter said: ‘[The victim] says that as a result of the defendant’s behaviour, she lost a significant amount of weight and felt she had no energy to carry on and details how things were very difficult in the days that followed the defendant’s arrest.
‘She questioned whether she had done the right thing in going to the police, but says as the days went by, things became easier, her health improved, she gained weight, she’s happier, less stressed and feels able to do things like using
social media and wearing makeup. Now the children are doing well and also appear happier.’
Bishopp was jailed for 16 months and ordered not to contact his ex-girlfriend for five years.
Recorder Ian Mullarkey said: ‘Your outlook and your attitude towards [the victim] was plainly warped by your own sense of insecurity and paranoia.
‘You controlled her by prohibiting her from wearing makeup, selecting her clothes for her, dissuading her from seeing her friends, permitting her to go out alone and even permitting her from owning a mobile telephone.
‘Because of your violent conduct towards her, she was left frightened of what might happen if she didn’t comply with your instructions.
‘You used the children as a weapon against her. Your mental health problems don’t begin to justify your behaviour towards [the victim].’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.