Christopher Haynes (Image: South Wales Police)
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A former secondary school English teacher has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after admitting to a sustained campaign of coercive control against his now ex-wife.
Christopher Haynes, 58, of Whitestone Avenue, Bishopston, Gower, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. He entered his plea on what was due to be the first day of his trial.
The abuse
The court heard how Haynes gradually tightened his grip over his wife’s life during their marriage, dictating who she was permitted to see, who could visit their home, and even what music was played in the house. He dismissed her work colleagues as “below him” and tried to pressure her into giving up her job entirely.
Prosecutor Craig Jones said Haynes viewed himself as “intellectually superior” to those around him and did not want his wife spending time with others or doing anything outside the home without him. Alongside the control, he would accuse her of being lazy around the house while simultaneously spending money the family did not have on expensive holidays and showering her with gifts.
Threats to kill
Haynes repeatedly told his wife he had powerful connections within the Freemasons and warned her it would only take “one call, one bullet” to have her killed through his contacts in the organisation. The court heard he also engaged in frequent bouts of heavy drinking, with his wife later describing home life as like “walking on eggshells every day”.
When arrested, Haynes denied making any threats and claimed he was “besotted” with his wife and would do anything for her.
Victim’s statement
The complainant read a statement to the court in which she described how Haynes had “love bombed” her when they first met, making her feel as though they were soul mates – something she now recognises as part of the manipulation. She told the court she had been an “independent and adventurous woman” but that Haynes had isolated her and shattered her confidence and safety with his jealous, abusive, coercive, degrading, and controlling behaviour and repeated threats. She described the family home as a “prison” and said she was “a shell of the woman I once was” who now exists only for her children.
Defence
Caitlin Brazel, representing Haynes, said the lateness of his guilty plea stemmed from his reluctance to admit he was an alcoholic and his “deep-seated shame and embarrassment” at what he had done. She told the court that after being forced to leave the teaching career he loved at the age of 50 due to deteriorating health, Haynes had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism. The court heard that following his divorce from the complainant, Haynes had remarried around three years ago.
Sentencing
Judge Geraint Walters told Haynes he had “ruthlessly controlled and manipulated” his former wife and “effectively stole her identity”. The judge noted that in his pre-sentence report, Haynes had sought to blame his ex-partner and justify his behaviour, and said it appeared the defendant was incapable of fully accepting his wrongdoing.
Haynes received a 10 per cent discount for his guilty plea and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. He was also made subject to a lifelong restraining order prohibiting any contact with his former wife. Haynes has no previous convictions.
