A man described by a judge as having a “deep seated and dangerous attitude towards women” has been jailed after trying to control every aspect of his partner’s life.

Ali Imam, 24, was in a relationship with the woman for a year but towards the end of 2022 his coercive behaviour escalated.

He began to control who his girlfriend spoke to, what she wore, if she used make up and often made abusive and derogatory comments towards her. He would get angry if she didn’t clean or make dinner.

Imam isolated her from family and friends, tracked her and monitored her phone and social media. He sent coercive and controlling messages, physically assaulted the woman and even cut up her clothes.

In April 2023 the woman ended the relationship and confided in police what had been happening to her.

Imam, of Abbeyfields, Fletton, Peterborough, was arrested on suspicion of coercive and controlling behaviour but in police interview he denied the offences.

Sheer scale of messages

His phone was seized and analysis revealed the sheer scale of messages he had sent to his girlfriend.

In just six weeks he had asked the woman what she was doing 178 times, where she was more than 200 times and accused her of cheating on him 16 times – mainly when she did not answer his messages immediately.

Imam was charged with one count of coercive and controlling behaviour which he initially denied, but pleaded guilty with a basis of plea at Cambridge Crown Court in September.

He was sentenced at the same court on Friday (22 November) where he was jailed for two years and three months.

Imam was also handed a restraining order for life, ordering him not to contact his former partner or her family by any means – nor refer to them directly or indirectly on social media.