Controlling Lee Preston was caught on a video doorbell kicking a puppy he had purchased in an try and win again his girlfriend. The 37-year-old had been dumped by his associate as a consequence of his poor behaviour in direction of her.
In a silly try and rekindle the connection, he bought a canine and took it to her home. But she noticed him assault the pup by kicking it, inflicting it to yelp in ache.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard in one other incident, he went to her home and attacked her door. When she went exterior, he slammed her towards a wall and bit her on her neck.
Now Preston – who’s a chartered accountant and has no earlier convictions – has been jailed for 16 months. Prosecutor Omar Majid stated Preston had been in a relationship along with his sufferer after assembly her at their office – Dunelm. But she discovered him more and more risky, bodily and controlling and known as quits on their relationship in September final 12 months.
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On September 28 final 12 months she was at home when Preston turned up unannounced. Mr Majid stated: “He began to kick her entrance door and brought on harm to the underside nook of the door which means it didn’t lock correctly.”
Preston purchased a puppy for his sufferer in an try and win her again however on November 22 she obtained a notification from her doorbell footage. Mr Majid stated: “When she opened it she noticed Preston kick the canine and it may very well be heard yelping in ache. It was clearly a sadistic attack.”
Preston turned up at his sufferer’s home on December 18 and was aggressive and verbally abusive. Mr Majid stated: “He began to kick the entrance door and pull the doorbell off the wall.
“She determined to exit and have a look at the door. When she went out the argument continued and he or she informed him to go away. He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her and in the course of the battle he bit her on her neck having slammed her towards the wall of the storage.
“She stored telling him to go away however he refused. He picked up a flower pot and threw it on the door.”
A neighbour who witnessed the incident stated it was ‘horrific’ to observe. The sufferer stated Preston’s behaviour impacted on her psychological well being.
Preston, of Grove Avenue, Fenton, pleaded responsible to assault occasioning precise bodily hurt; two expenses of felony harm; and inflicting pointless struggling to an animal.
Barry White, mitigating, stated Preston is remorseful. He stated: “He has let feelings get the higher of him. He has acted badly and out of character. He has no earlier convictions and has not offended since these issues. He has watched the footage with me and is ashamed and embarrassed.”
He stated Preston spent 4 weeks on remand after his arrest and didn’t match into the jail setting in any respect. Mr White added: “He may be rehabilitated.”
But Recorder Robert Smith stated the offending was so critical solely a direct jail sentence may very well be justified. He informed Preston: “She had the misfortune to fulfill you at work and shaped an intimate relationship with you from November 2021. You have a senior position within the firm and he or she a junior one.
“In July 2022 she observed your behaviour in direction of her had modified. She determined to finish the connection in September final 12 months as a consequence of your controlling behaviour.
“I utterly reject your profound regret. I discover you jealous, controlling and an conceited man. I discover you pose a danger of inflicting critical hurt to companions.”
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