Controlling boyfriend, 32, who limited ex-girlfriends access to their pet HAMSTER avoids jail
A possessive boyfriend who forced his ex-girlfriend to have supervised ‘access’ visits to their pet hamster when they split has been convicted of coercive controlling behaviour.
A possessive boyfriend who forced his ex-girlfriend to have supervised ‘access’ visits to their pet hamster when they split has been convicted of coercive controlling behaviour.
Robert Larvin, 32, refused to let Jessica Turner keep the pet at her property and told her she could only visit the animal when he was present.
During their two-year relationship he also dictated what clothes and make up she could wear and forced her to turn on the location facility on her mobile phone so he could keep track of her when they were apart.
After they split up, Larvin stalked Miss Turner, who is pregnant with his child, by turning up at her work, following her around town and hiding outside her home address. He also messaged her to let her know he was watching her.
Robert Larvin (left) forced his ex-girlfriend, Jessica Turner (right) ,to have supervised ‘access’ visits to their pet hamster when they split. He has now been convicted of coercive controlling behaviour
During their two-year relationship Larvin also dictated what clothes and make up Miss Turner could wear and forced her to turn on the location facility on her mobile phone so he could keep track of her when they were apart
Larvin, of Sandbach, Cheshire, also assaulted Miss Turner on two occasions, including in a Wetherspoons pub, when he grabbed her head from behind and slammed it into a door handle.
Last week the warehouseman narrowly avoided jail after pleaded guilty to stalking, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and two offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Magistrates in Warrington sentenced him to 28 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and banned him from contacting Miss Turner, who works at a food service company, in person.
Craig Welsby, prosecuting, said: ‘During the relationship, the defendant would control what the complainant would wear including clothes and make up.. If the complainant went against him he started to argue with her, belittled her and put her down.
Last week Larvin narrowly avoided jail after pleaded guilty to stalking, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and two offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Magistrates in Warrington sentenced him to 28 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and banned him from contacting Miss Turner, who works at a food service company, in person.
‘The defendant also controlled the pet hamster. He refused to return the pet and stated that if the complainant wanted to see it she could have supervised visits where the defendant needed to be present. ‘
Mr Welsby said Larvin also had access to Miss Turner’s bank account and would buy goods for himself and spend money on computer games without her permission.
The lawyer said the stalking took place over five months, between April and August, and left her feeling terrified of leaving the house.
‘The defendant would turn up at her home address at all times of day and night,’ Mr Welsby said. ‘He was seen hiding behind a car and throwing stones at a window to get her attention. He would send her messages telling her what she was wearing, saying he could see her. He was hiding outside of her address.
‘She was petrified to leave the house. She did not want to go to work or go to town out of fear the defendant was watching her.’
In June Larvin assaulted Miss Turner outside her workplace when he pushed her into a fire door after they argued when she refused to speak to him. Four days later he attacked her again by grabbing her head and pushing her into a door handle in Wetherspoon’s in Sandbach.
‘She was stood by the disabled toilet when she suddenly had the back of head grabbed and slammed into the door handle causing a large lump on her forehead,’ Mr Welsby added.
Larvin, who has previous convictions for stalking and interfering with a witness, recognised ‘the harm he has caused,’ his lawyer Alex Dunn said.
‘He also recognises that he may have some deep-seated trauma as regarding his family situation. He is not afraid of acknowledging the big issues with his behaviour in the past. He is prepared to engage with the support offered.’
Larvin was also ordered to complete a two-year community order and made to pay £239 in costs and victim surcharge.
