A CONTROLLING partner deliberately wrecked a teddy bear and a memorial tree planted in memory of his partner’s friend.

That cruel act of criminal damage came amid a two-year relationship in which Martin Vickers subjected the woman to violence and coercive behaviour which left her feeling degraded and intimidated.

The 58-year-old defendant repeatedly interrupted the judge who was sentencing him for three offences. Vickers earlier admitted criminal damage, harassment, and coercive and controlling behaviour in an intimate relationship.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Isabelle Haddad outlined the facts.

She said the defendant and the victim, who lives in the Aspatria area , were in a relationship between May, 2020 and September, 2022. In that month, the couple had visited a pub and they argued.

During the row, he accused her family members of interfering in the relationship and referred to them in derogatory terms. At the pub, he had taken her phone and texted offensive messages to her relatives.

“She began to cry and the defendant then proceeded to shout and swear at her,” said the barrister. His behaviour was so offensive, the court heard, that it prompted staff at the pub to ask Vickers to leave.

On September 23 that year, Vickers deliberated damaged the memorial tree planted in memory of his partner's late freind, a teddy bear, and he cut up boots and damaged trainers belonging to the woman.

Miss Haddad said Vickers used derogatory language towards the woman; in a statement the victim said his behaviour left her feeling isolated, degraded and at times fearful that he would use violence.

She stopped going to social events and said she had experienced violence from Vickers, who shouted from his prison video booth: “It’s not true.”

Vickers also sent a series of messages to the victim's friend between October 6 and 12, claiming he was heartbroken and still loved his former partner. He said he did not realise this spate of messages constituted harassment.

Vickers has 80 offences on his criminal record, including six previous incidents of criminal damage, harassment and driving with excess alcohol and an assault causing actual bodily harm.

Miss Haddad added of the coercive and controlling behaviour had gone on for two years and included “multiple methods” of control and left the victim fearing violence on “numerous occasions.”

Sarah Porter, for Vickers, said the text messages he sent to the victim’s friend were not threatening. Vickers accepted that his behaviour represented an “unhealthy aspect” of his relationship.

The barrister said: “He tells me that the arguments were often drink fuelled and said that if he could turn the clock back he’d do things differently.” Referring to the criminal damage, Miss Porter said Vickers admitted that his emotions had got the better of him.

He had drunk to excess in the past and while running discos he was exposed to an environment where people were drinking.

Recorder Julian Shaw commented that Vickers was a man without remorse and without insight into his offending, who could get physical when drunk and more verbally aggressive.

The judge told Vickers: “You are a gentleman of mature years who has persistently been in trouble  with the police throughout your life and your offending behaviour extends back to 1985.

“This will be your fourth term of imprisonment.”

His previous offences included sending menacing messages and an actual bodily harm assault. The judge continued: “I am satisfied that you are a man who struggles to control himself; and who is unable to control himself in an intimate relationship.”

Vickers blamed everybody else for problems.

He accused the victim’s family of interfering in the relationship, not appreciating that they were worried about his behaviour towards his partner, which included slapping her, pushing her and spitting at her and engaging in “all sorts of unpleasant, controlling behaviour.”

There was no personal mitigation, said the Recorder, adding: “Women in this country don’t need to be treated, or deserve to be treated, in the way you consider your way of life.”

People who are victims of this “awful offence,” committed behind closed doors, would be protected; and this should be reflected in significant sentences, observed the judge.

He jailed Vickers, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for two years and six months and imposed a restraining order that bans any contact with the victim for the next 15 years.

Throughout the hearing, Vickers complained about the prosecution version of his behaviour, describing it as “absolute garbage.” He added: “I don’t go around beating up my partners.”