A CARLISLE man has admitted subjecting his former partner to months of  “controlling and coercive” behaviour.

Andrew Martin Read, 37, committed the offence between September 17 last year and February 25 of this year, exerting control over the woman in a variety of ways, the city’s crown court heard.

He entered his plea during a brief hearing. The wording of the charge states that he committed the offence with various acts, including:

  • Telling her what she could wear.
  • Preventing her from seeing her friends.
  • Controlling who she could be friends with.
  • Checking her social media accounts.
  • Threatening to post abusive comments on social media.
  • Preventing her from working overtime, leading to the loss of her employment.
  • And telling the victim she had to stop seeing her personal trainer and to get a female personal trainer instead.

The charge states that the defendant knew, or ought to have known, that his behaviour would have a serious effect on the victim.

The defendant's barrister said he had entered his guilty plea on a basis, though this was not outlined in court. Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned sentence for four weeks.

This is so the Probation Service can prepare a background report.

The judge told Read, whose address was given as Warwick Square, Carlisle: “You have pleaded guilty to this charge, coercive and controlling behaviour, and the evidence was always there in written form in the messages you were sending.

“There will be a pre-sentence report prepared, which means you will keep your appointment with the Probation Service; the officer will interview you and prepare a report.”

The defendant was granted bail and told he must return to the court on October 1 for sentence. The defendant had been due to face a trial, having previously denied the allegation before the court.

He changed his plea to guilty on the day the trial was due to begin.