A CONTROLLING bully who tried to smoother his partner before threatening her with an imitation gun and punching her in the face has been jailed for carrying out his campaign of terror.
Lee Hakansson was already serving a suspended sentence for an attack on a previous partner when he attacked and coerced his victim between January 2019 and June last year.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 30-year-old would regularly insult his partner calling her a 'sl**' if he didn't like what she was wearing and took control of her social media accounts to stop her from befriending other men.
Daniel Penman, prosecuting, said the defendant would make his partner wear her hair how he wanted her to, banned her from messaging her friends while she was out with him and launched a violent attack on her following a drunken argument.
He added: "The victim was woken by a speaker playing music next to her and she asked the defendant to turn off the music and he refused, she then tried to get out of bed but he pushed her back down before trying to smoother her with the duvet pushing it across her face so she struggled to breathe.
"He then produced a short-handled object which looked like a BB gun and said 'If you don't be quiet, I'm going to shoot you' and after a couple of minutes he lowered the gun."
Mr Penman said on another occasion Hakansson punched her in the face following another drunken argument in the early hours of the morning of June 13 last year.
When she fell to the ground he continued his attack by kicking her to the body.
Hakansson, Macrae Road, Hartlepool, was found guilty of controlling and coercive control and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial.
Andrew Turton, in mitigation, said his client now understands that his behaviour was unacceptable and is expecting a child with his latest partner.
Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Hakansson to a total two years and six months after also activating part of his suspended sentence.
He said: "The coercive behaviour was your control over her life, you chose how she dresses or you criticised her if you didn't like what she dressed in. You had access to her social media accounts, you argued with her and were concerned about which friends she should or shouldn't have."
Hakansson was also issued with a restraining order.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel