A controlling man told his partner 'it's like looking after a baby' and called her 'dumbolino' after she suffered a stroke. Darren Buckley, 55, admitted behaving in a controlling and coercive way towards his partner of 19 years.
She claimed the relationship had been 'toxic from the start' with 'more bad days than good', Manchester Crown Court heard. Prosecutors said that Buckley's controlling behaviour, committed over a five year period, 'escalated' when she suffered a stroke.
She felt it put a 'strain' on their relationship and that he 'blamed her' for it. Prosecuting, Katherine Wright said Buckley, from Wythenshawe, told her 'it's like looking after a baby' and said 'you're a dumbolino'.
READ MORE : Man who lived luxury lifestyle with his wife off their crimes caught bragging about his piles of cash
The police were called in January last year after the couple had a row. Buckley threw water over her and threatened to kill her, Ms Wright said.
He told police that the argument had been a 'joke' and admitted 'flicking some water' onto her but denied making threats. She said Buckley's behaviour has had a 'significant impact' on her self confidence.
During the incident where police were called she was 'scared for her life', the victim said. "I don't think it's right for anyone to be treated in this manner," she said.
Prosecutors said she felt 'humiliated and degraded' by his behaviour, and her family noticed a 'significant change' in her personality. Buckley pleaded guilty to displaying controlling and coercive behaviour towards his former partner between December 2015 and January last year.
Defending, Hugh Barton said Buckley pleaded guilty at the first opportunity before magistrates. He said: "It does give hope and support that this is someone who is prepared to work with probation."
Mr Barton said Buckley has worked in construction but is currently signed off sick after suffering from mental health problems. Sentencing, Recorder Ciaran Rankin told Buckley: "She has indicated that it was difficult from the start.
"It is quite clear that it was degrading and humiliating behaviour towards her, you were insulting towards her. It is quite clear that your behaviour towards her had a significant adverse impact upon her.
"Matters came to a head at the end of January 2021. What you have done there after has only mitigated your position."
Buckley, of Warmley Road, Wythenshawe, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete the Building Better Relationships programme and complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
A restraining order was also imposed.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ MORE:
- Struggling neighbours in Salford's 'biggest eyesore' face 'scandalous' rent hike - on Christmas Eve
- Police release CCTV footage after three attempted kidnappings that saw schoolgirls targeted
- How the Devil Dog Mobster's reign of terror ended in a hail of bullets at the wheel of his £50k Mercedes
- Loan sharks and drug dealer caught in a dead end among Greater Manchester criminals waking up behind bars
- Village rocked by murder of devoted dad found shot and attacked with acid in quiet street
