Sheffield judge blasts abusive man over 'disgraceful' behaviour after he harassed partner

A judge told a jealous and abusive man his behaviour was “deplorable” and “disgraceful” after he harassed his partner.
By Jon Cooper
Published 24th Jun 2020, 09:17 GMT
Updated 24th Jun 2020, 09:17 GMT
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on June 19 how Matthew Thompson, aged 34, formerly of St Mary’s Road, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, became jealous and controlling and was constantly checking up on his partner after he had been released from prison.

Andrea Parnham, prosecuting, said: “The relationship was good but on the last occasion he was released from prison in 2017 he seemed to have changed and he became jealous and controlling.”

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Thompson would accuse his partner of seeing other men, according to Ms Parnham, and he phoned her constantly and in the summer of 2018 he insisted she video herself and phone him to show she was at a new job and if she returned home late he would be angry.

An abusive man has been given a custodial sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, after he harassed his partner.An abusive man has been given a custodial sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, after he harassed his partner.
An abusive man has been given a custodial sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, after he harassed his partner.

Ms Parnham said: “She described being harassed and blamed for everything and she felt suffocated by him.”

The complainant also received a barrage of phone calls while she was at a party so she returned home only to be abused by the defendant, according to Ms Parnham.

The court also heard on another occasion the complainant was repeatedly called and messaged and when she returned home the defendant was angry again so she decided to end the relationship.

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Ms Parnham said that during a subsequent chance meeting Thompson also tried to take their son out of a car and then turned on her.

Thompson, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to harassment.

Natalie Csengeri, defending, said Thompson has problems with anxiety and depression and hopes to break the cycle of abusive thoughts and he apologises for his actions.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, told Thompson: “You behaved in what can only be described as an incomprehensibly deplorable way.”

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He added: “To behave as you did with a child in the backdrop can only be described as disgraceful.”

Judge Richardson sentenced Thompson to four-months of custody but he will now be released because he has been remanded in prison since January.

Thompson was also given a five-year restraining order.