Prison for violent bully who cut off partner's hair

Michael Doherty regularly punched the woman and prevented her from seeing her family, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The final humiliation came when the 28-year-old cut off her hair knowing she was particularly proud of the long locks, said Mr Edward Soulsby.

The couple, who were living together in Deans Road, Eastfield when their troubled home life came to a head in March, had been together since 2005 and have a four year old child.

The woman, now at a secret address, revealed in a letter read to the court: "Two years into the relationship he started hitting me and being controlling.

"He used to leave bruises on me and put fear in my heart. I have been so scared. Living with him was a nightmare. He called me his slave. He would say: 'You are not my Princess any more; you are my slave.'

"He told me that if ever I left him he would make sure that nobody else wanted me. He kept my bankcard and would not let me use it. I was stopped from seeing my family and he would not let me have a mobile phone. He wanted to know every single movement that I made. I was blamed for everything."

The victim said she was too frightened to tell anybody what was going on until March 3. She continued: "He said he was fed up of hitting me because I never learned. He said he was going to cut my hair off. It made me feel feminine and went down to my waist.

"He grabbed my ponytail and pulled me upstairs. Then he cut off my hair. He took away a massive part of me. I didn't try to stop him. I am mentally drained."

There was another bust-up on March 11 when Doherty punched his partner on the jaw, threw her onto the sofa, knelt on her and punched her again, said Mr Soulsby.

The woman finally told her sister what was happening and the police were alerted. Doherty was arrested on March 19 and has been held in custody since then. He denied causing intentional harassment but was convicted after a magistrates court trial and committed to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Jon Roe, defending, said: "The two assaults were significant and serious. The rest of what has been suggested is background information that has not been tested in evidence."

Doherty, now of no fixed address, was jailed by Recorder Julian Taylor who told him: "This behaviour amounted to cruelty. You humiliated her and committed violence against her. She took great pride in her appearance, especially her long hair. You knew that and cut it off."

The court also made a restraining order banning him from having any contact with the woman in future.