Sunderland 'paranoid' control freak assaulted his baby's mother three times
by Rob Kennedy · ChronicleLiveA 'paranoid' control freak assaulted his baby's mother three times and threatened to burn down her mother's.
Dylan Geldard had been in an on-off relationship with the victim for around ten years and they had a three-month-old child at the time of the attack and were living together. Andrew Findlay, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "She said he was paranoid and controlling.
"Between February 1 and June 28 he isolated her from her friends and family, he would not let her go out or speak to friends when she wanted to do so, he prevented her phoning the police or family for help and he would enforce these rules with physical abuse."
On May 6 this year, they were at home and had been arguing about him staying out the night before without telling her where he was. He ended up punching and spitting at her. Having curled up in a ball, she suffered bruising to her thigh.
On another day, Geldard assaulted her again after accusing her of giving out his mobile phone number and address because he got a call from an unknown number. The court heard he began screaming and shouting, pushed her on the sofa and punched her arm, causing bruising, and back-handed her in the face, causing a black eye.
On June 26, Geldard found a police leaflet in the woman's pocket relating to an attack her mother had reported. He called his partner a "grass" and asked if she was trying to get him arrested.
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The next day, the argument continued and he threw her phone against a wall to prevent her contacting anyone then punched her to the back of the head. She ended up locking herself in the bathroom and he left.
But the following morning he returned and told her she was not allowed to leave. He locked her inside, taking the keys with him and she had to climb through a window to get out.
He later rang and texted her threatening to burn her mother's house down.
Geldard, 23, of Esham, South Hylton, Sunderland, who has 18 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour, three counts of common assault, criminal damage and threats to destroy or damage property. He was jailed for 30 weeks but was told that as he has served 16 weeks on remand, he will be released immediately.
Laura Miller, defending, said he had completed a number of courses in prison.
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