A controlling boyfriend 'humiliated' and 'degraded' his ex-partner by depriving her of food and treating her 'like an animal'. Thomas Barton, 43, forced his girlfriend to eat scraps of garlic bread off a hotel floor - and refused to let her order when they visited a Chinese restaurant in Manchester.
His former partner said she was made to feel like 'a dog' and was terrified Barton would use violence against her if she didn't go along with his bullish demands. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how he also attacked her after she challenged him about using her bank card without asking.
He was jailed for 34 weeks after a judge said she was 'worried' about the risk he presented to women he was in a relationship with. Prosecuting, Gwen Henshaw told the court the pair were in a relationship for around three years, but didn't live together.
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Over the space of a month in July last year, Barton's behaviour was said to have become more controlling. "During that period in July they were going through a difficult period," Ms Henshaw said.
"On the first occasion, they had been staying in a hotel and they were planning to have a nice evening."
The court heard that during the course of the evening, Barton drank nearly a whole bottle of vodka, as well as lager and whiskey. They ordered a takeaway which consisted of a 12inch pizza, garlic bread and a kebab - with the plan to share the food.
But Barton refused to let her eat anything, apart from tiny scraps of garlic bread which he left on the floor, making the woman feel 'like a dog'.
Ms Henshaw added: "He was telling her to 'shut the f*** up' and said 'you are doing my f******g head in'. She was crying and he told her the noise she was making was too loud."
On another occasion, the couple were visiting a Chinese restaurant in Manchester city centre when Barton told her to 'button it' when she tried to order.
"She felt embarrassed," Ms Henshaw added. "He ordered from the menu without consulting her and insisted that she ate with chopsticks even though she didn’t want to.
"The defendant went on to eat most of the food anyway. After the meal she left to have a cigarette and the defendant came out and marched her up the road causing her to hit her ankle.
"A group of women came over to ask if she was okay. He told them she was drunk and being stupid. But the complainant asked to go with them for her safety."
A few weeks later, on August 7 last year, the couple had an argument after Barton used her bank card without her permission. The court heard he pushed her and caused her to fall to the floor.
"He picked her by her arms violently," Ms Henshaw said. "She described him picking her up like a rag doll. She sustained bruising to her arms.
"Her mother was the victim of domestic abuse which the defendant knew about and knew about the impact it had on her. She felt he was used as his punch bag."
Defending, Dafydd Roberts told the court Barton has limited previous convictions, and that he had been remanded in custody after he was arrested for these offences.
"It was his first time in custody and it has been a savage lesson for him," Mr Roberts said. "He has a strong work ethic and is educated and has worked previously. He is determined to get back into work."
Barton, of no fixed address, was jailed for 34 weeks - which he is thought to have now served in prison, after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour; and common assault.
Sentencing, Judge Angela Nield, said: "However toxic and difficult that relationship was, this victim deserved to be treated with a great deal more respect and kindness than she was.
"On at least two occasions she was led to fear that violence would be used against her. But more particularly, she felt herself humiliated and degraded and less than a person. She described herself as being treated like an animal.
"Each incident involved food and her allegations of you depriving her of food in a controlling and deliberate way. The probation report makes worrying reading about the risk you present to anyone you are in a relationship with."
Barton was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting or approaching his ex-girlfriend.
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