STEVEN BECKETT – STOKE

❌STEVEN BECKETT – STOKE❌

2021

Bully boyfriend choked partner, locked her in house and poked her eyes during abuse campaign

Now Steven Beckett, aged 42, of Packmoor, has been locked up at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court

Bullying boyfriend Steven Beckett has been jailed after he attacked his partner, choked her and threatened to slit her throat as their relationship descended into abuse.

The 42-year-old started to control his girlfriend about a year after they got together.

Over the next 18 months he subjected her to a horrifying ordeal that involved:

locking her in his house to prevent her leaving;
pushing her in cupboards, shoving her on the bed and poking her in the eye;
pinning her up against the wall and choking her;
threatening to slit her throat and;
turning up at her house uninvited.

Now Beckett has been jailed for two-and-a-half years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Peter McCartney said the defendant started a relationship with his victim in 2017 and at first he was caring and loving and showed no signs of aggressive behaviour.

But the situation changed in April 2018 when he became controlling and coercive.

Mr McCartney said: “There used to be petty arguments. She would try to leave. He would lock her in and prevent her from leaving. He would take the car keys from her and on one occasion he was physically violent.

She began to log some of the incidents. She also took pictures and kept messages and emails.

“On May 20, 2018 he became violent and pushed her in a cupboard causing an injury to her leg.

“On September 9, 2018, after an argument, he threw her around the bedroom, pushed her in a cupboard, pushed her on the bed and poked her in the eye. She had bruises to her thigh, upper arm, back and eye.

“On December 23, 2018, after an argument, he put his hands around her throat and choked her. He pinned her up against the wall. She suffered injuries to her chest, face and arms. She thought she was going to pass out, possibly even die.

“She managed to escape and shouted for help from an upstairs window.

“One of the neighbours called the police. Officers knocked on the door. They took her back to her own house. She did not want to make a complaint to the police at that point.”

On December 24, 2018 the defendant let himself into her house. She told him to get out but he would not leave. She went into her son’s bedroom and sat with her back against the door to stop him entering the room. He smashed a hole in the door.

The defendant threatened to slit his victim’s throat on February 14, 2019.

She blocked him on social media but she received emails from him.

On June 13, 2019 she received emails and she was worried that if she did not respond he would turn up at her house. He turned up at her home the next day uninvited.

Mr McCartney said: “She did not let him in. He tried to get in her property and sent her an email.”

On August 14, 2019 the defendant turned up at her house uninvited and sat outside for three hours waiting to be let in.

On October 21, 2019, after an argument in his car, he tried to hit her in the face as he drove.

And two days later she was walking to her car when he jumped out in front of her in Hartshill.

Mr McCartney added: “She ran back to the hairdressers. He was banging on the window. The hairdresser walked her back to her car. Beckett came charging down the road and stood in front of her car. She was terrified and called the police.”

The defendant breached a non-molestation order by contacting his victim in December 2019 and February 2020.

Beckett, of Linnett Grove, Packmoor, denied breach of a non-molestation order, criminal damage and controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1, 2018 and October 21, 2019 but was convicted of all matters after a trial at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Anis Ali, mitigating, said the defendant maintains his innocence. He has referred himself for counselling. He said the defendant employs several people.

Mr Ali added: “He accepts that the relationship has come to an end.”

Recorder Jason Macadam made the defendant the subject of a restraining order which prevents him contacting his victim for 10 years.

He said: “You are 42, you have no convictions of relevance and I treat you as a man of good character.

“You seriously assaulted her in your home, damaged property and made serious threats to her on numerous occasions.

Throughout this relationship you were thoroughly controlling and manipulative. Your behaviour was over a protracted period of time.

“Only a sentence of immediate custody is appropriate.”