HULL MAN JAILED FOR FIVE YEARS OF COERCIVE DOMESTIC ABUSE AND ASSAULT
A man responsible for years of physical and psychological abuse against his girlfriend has been sentenced to prison after multiple violent incidents.Leon Howlett, aged 44 from north Hull, was found guilty of controlling his partner’s daily life—including denying her contact with her relatives, limiting her access to food, and assaulting her with objects such as a baseball bat and stick.
The abuse lasted approximately five years, during which Howlett used violent tactics to intimidate and humiliate her, including pulling her hair out, pouring water over her, and assaulting her physically.
He also manipulated her finances and benefits, creating a climate of fear that rendered her isolated.
The case was heard at Hull Crown Court, where Howlett pleaded not guilty to charges of coercive control and assault causing actual bodily harm, but was convicted by a jury.
Prosecutor Stephen Robinson described how Howlett’s abuse was both physical and psychological, with a crescendo culminating in an assault in January 2021 that prompted police intervention.
An anonymous phone call alerted authorities to a woman with bruises and injuries consistent with assault, who was later found at a home in Bransholme along with Howlett.
Initially refusing to open the door, both eventually allowed police in, though they tried to deny knowledge of her injuries.
The woman had suffered cuts, bruises, chipped teeth, and swelling, claiming she fell down the stairs—but medical assessments confirmed signs of sustained abuse.
She revealed that Howlett had exerted control over her, restricting how she dressed, when she went to the toilet, and whom she saw.
She described brutal beatings, including choking episodes that caused her to pass out, and assaults with a wooden object while on her knees.
The relationship had profoundly impacted her well-being, stripping her of her confidence and isolating her from friends and family.
She also shared her experience of being forcibly silenced and physically abused, with injuries so severe she needed hospital treatment.
During police interviews, Howlett offered a prepared statement denying his involvement and claimed he did not drink alcohol.
The victim’s statement expressed her relief at escaping the abuse, emphasizing she had lost her friends, suffered low self-esteem, and endured constant pain and fear.
Her previous convictions included convictions for assault, drug offences, and dishonesty, with a jail term in 2006 for drug supply.
Defense lawyer Timothy Jacobs explained that the recent violence was part of ongoing coercive control but emphasized there was no indication of similar behavior in previous relationships and that Howlett acknowledged the end of this relationship.
The court sentenced him to four years behind bars and issued an indefinite restraining order, ensuring her protection going forward.
