A MAN has been spared jail after holding his partner down and leaving her with bruising after she gave birth.

Wayne Fitzgerald, of Radstock Road, Southampton, continuously engaged in controlling behaviour with his then partner, having access to her PIN and accusing her of cheating on him repeatedly, a court heard.

This behaviour took place between July and October 2021 with Fitzgerald, 42, even trying to stop his partner from going to see her own sister.

Southampton Crown Court heard how his victim was “frightened” and “scared” of Fitzgerald and how on October 5 of last year, a social worker received a call regarding the abuse.

On Wednesday, he appeared at court having previously pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.

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Prosecutor Alex Lloyd said the abuse would happen “on a daily basis”.

But in a statement read out in court from another previous partner, Paula Williams, it read: “I have known Wayne for 30 years. I was shocked because I have never known of Wayne to act this way.”

Defence barrister, Berenice Mulvanny said this is not how Fitzgerald “usually conducts himself” and that he had previously suffered with alcohol misuse after his mum died but is now sober and searching for work.

She added he was drinking on a daily basis and that he is now worried that he is turning into his father who was an alcoholic when he was younger.

As Fitzgerald wept in the dock, Ms Mulvanny said: “He accepts responsibility. He is disgusted with his behaviour.”

Daily Echo: Southampton Crown Court. Southampton Crown Court.

She added there is a good prospect of rehabilitation and he is now living with another former partner.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said Fitzgerald had no previous convictions but added his victim “was particularly vulnerable having just given birth” at the time of the abuse.

He was handed a 12-month sentence suspended for eight months and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

A restraining order was also put in place for five years banning him from going near his former partner.

A charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was dropped.

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