A MAN from Rhyl “controlled everything” about the life of his former partner, who blames him for having her 19-year-old daughter removed from her.
Nicholas Lessiter subjected Christina Mayhew to months of abuse, including mocking her weight, accusing her of being unfaithful, and physically assaulting her.
Lessiter, 33, of Gwynfryn Avenue, was jailed for two years at Mold Crown Court today (November 7), having previously admitted controlling and coercive behaviour.
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Prosecutor Myles Wilson said that Lessiter and Ms Mayhew started their relationship in February, but in September, he received a suspended sentence for assaulting her in March and April.
Lessiter had moved into Ms Mayhew’s house, where she lived with her daughter, who has learning disabilities and autism.
Having previously been jailed for five-and-a-half years for child cruelty, Lessiter initially gave Ms Mayhew a fake name.
He went on to act in a “jealous” and “controlling” manner towards Ms Mayhew, checking her mobile phone, refusing to let her leave home alone, accompanying her when leaving the house.
Lessiter told Ms Mayhew he “owned” her, made her look at the ground when out walking, and prevented her from seeing her male friends.
Ms Mayhew said she neglected her own personal appearance and hygiene, because Lessiter would accused her of wanting to maintain these standards for other men.
He also pressured her parents into not seeing her, and when Ms Mayhew would speak to them on the phone, Lessiter would insist on the call being on loudspeaker so that he could hear it.
After being charged with actual bodily harm and battery, Lessiter was bailed on the condition that he did not contact Ms Mayhew.
But he proceeded to message her, pressuring her to resume their relationship and threatening to harm her and her daughter.
The court was told that social services had concerns about the situation, so took the decision to remove Ms Mayhew’s daughter from her care.
Tearfully reading her victim impact statement in court today, Ms Mayhew said: “It would fill me with dread whenever I would see my phone light up with a message from him.
“I still have flashbacks of the day when he assaulted me in a hire van. He controlled everything that I did. I was so used to being told what to do that I’m still getting used to making my own decisions again.”
Ms Mayhew said she considered trying to move to a women’s refuge, or sign in to a mental health unit, to try to escape Lessiter.
She said it is his fault that she has lost custody of her daughter, “the best thing in my life”.
“Although I felt relieved that Nicholas had been remanded, I still look out my window and think it’s not true, and that he’ll be outside,” Ms Mayhew added.
“I feel my daughter and I have been punished because he came into our lives. Nicholas has caused her to be taken away from me.”
Defending Lessiter, who also had previous convictions for battery, James Coutts said his guilty plea is his best mitigation “by a distance”.
Mr Coutts said Lessiter has encountered numerous “difficulties” in his life – “some of which are his own making; some of which aren’t”.
Currently, he said, Lessiter’s greatest concern is for his mother, who lives alone.
Sentencing Judge Niclas Parry said Lessiter’s relationship with Ms Mayhew was blighted by “toxicity” and “poison”.
He made indefinite restraining orders, preventing Lessiter from contacting her or her daughter, “full stop”.
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