A man who abused his girlfriend for years would put a bag over her head and ask her how long it would take her to escape, a court has heard.
Ryan Hunter, of Walton Lane, Walton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday after being found guilty of two counts of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 33-year-old previously pleaded guilty to two counts of producing cannabis and one count of abstracting electricity.
Martine Snowden, prosecuting, detailed that Hunter subjected his partner of nine years to substantial verbal and physical abuse for three years. The court heard that Hunter stabbed the victim in the leg with a cutlery knife, and on another occasion, punched her in the face causing a fractured tooth.
READ MORE: Woman accused of stabbing man, 24, to death named
As part of the sustained abuse, Hunter would throw the victim onto the couch, calling it a “back-breaker”, knowing she had back problems, and push his thumbs into her eyeballs. He would also place a bag over the mother of his child’s head, asking her “how long it would take her to escape”, and then tell her “you could have bit through the bag you m***”.
When she tried to end the relationship, Hunter threatened to kill her and take their child away. On one occasion, Hunter smashed cups in a fit of rage because the victim had not made him a cup of tea the way he wanted, and then threatened to pour hot water over her.
Another day, the victim had not done Hunter’s washing, so he pinned her to the bed where he punched and strangled her, saying “I have got no f***ing clothes”. The victim recorded several bouts of verbal and physical abuse against her, which were played in court during the trial.
He could be heard saying “How thick are you?, I will stab you, you f***ing little rat”, and the sound of slapping was audible. In 2019, after the victim returned home from bringing their daughter to school slightly later than he expected her to, Hunter demanded to know where she had been, then said “I am going to kill you or someone”, which she recorded.
He took her to the bathroom, held her against a wall and threw a phone at her, before the victim managed to leave and finally escape the relationship. The prosecution read a victim impact statement written by the victim three years after the end of the offending which described her long-term anxiety caused by the years of abuse, and that she still feels she has to “look over her shoulder” and suffers flashbacks.
She said she had been “berated by the defendant since the age of 13”, and “used like a punching bag”. The victim added that when she cried, Hunter would hurt her further, and used her money for drugs and gambling, leaving her in considerable debt.
Ms Snowden also detailed the two charges relating to production of cannabis, which came to light in 2019 after police discovered £7,800 worth of cannabis. She added that he would “make” the victim assist in the crime by bagging the cannabis.
Hunter has several previous convictions including for harassment, drug offences, and further offences against the same victim that post-date this offending, as he continued to spend her money after the relationship had ended. Paul Becker, defending, said Hunter now has a new partner who stands by him, and his family sent letters to the court showing a “different side to the defendant”.
He highlighted that he has not been in custody since 2019, and is “apprehensive” about the prospect of returning. Mr Becker also emphasised the long delay in proceedings, stating that his client was interviewed in 2019 but not brought to court for the first time until 2022.
Mr Becker added that Hunter has ADHD and anxiety. Judge David Swinnerton, who presided over the trial, said the only reason the indictment period ran for only three years is because that was when the Serious Crime Act was implemented, but that the evidence heard showed “years and years of abuse”.
He described the “emotional blackmail” Hunter subjected the victim to, and said he used the victim's bank account "as he wished". Judge Swinnerton said: “You controlled her life.
“Some of the behaviour was intended to maximise fear and distress, you used multiple methods of controlling and coercive behaviour. “There was nothing sophisticated about it, but the conduct was intended to humiliate and degrade her."
Judge Swinnerton described that in 2017, Hunter began a new relationship with another woman, but continued to stay with the victim “using her as a place to live and for the money and for waiting on you like a servant, as she put it, like a slave”.
He added that Hunter shows no victim empathy or understanding of his crimes, and the fact that their young daughter was a witness to and “living through” much of the offending was an aggravating feature. Regarding the cannabis growth, Judge Swinnerton said: "You had a growth that you were selling and you were making the victim bag that up for you."
Hunter was sentenced to five years imprisonment and a restraining order barring him from contacting the victim was implemented indefinitely. Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs was ordered.
READ NEXT
Wirral Council leader deposed by her deputy in dramatic coup
Pregnant daughter held her dying dad after he was gunned down outside house
Hearts 'broken forever' after man who 'made everyone laugh' stabbed to death
New Look's £34 'best jumpsuit for summer' that has shoppers 'obsessed'
