A BINMAN has become the first person in Sussex to be convicted over his controlling and manipulating behaviour towards his girlfriend.

Robert Conlon put his girlfriend through a year of hell by telling her what she could or could not wear, who she could see, using threatening behaviour to controlled her life and even following her to work.

The 24-year-old refuse worker, of Willingdon Way, St Leonards, was jailed for four and half years having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to exercising coercive and controlling behaviour in a relationship.

He received further sentences, of 16 months for causing actual bodily harm to her and six months for each of two offences of perverting the course of justice by contacting the victim while he was on remand in prison.

He also tried to get his victim to withdraw her evidence.

He also received an indefinite Restraining Order which prohibits him from any contact with the 28-year-old woman, and with the investigating detective, and prohibits him from entering Sussex.

Detective Sergeant Steve Shimmons said: "Over 12 months Conlon engaged in controlling and coercive behaviour, telling the victim what she could and could not wear, who she could and could not see and generally controlling her daily life.

"He did this by using and threatening violence and it was clear this had a significant impact on her.

"He would contact her constantly to check where she was, who she was with and would follow her to and from her workplace."

The couple had been in a relationship, living at her address in Hastings, for more than year until last October when he was charged with the offences for which he was sentenced on May 19.

Detective Chief Inspector Ali Eaton added: "This case shows how such behaviour has a devastating and long-lasting impact on the lives of victims, who often don’t initially realise that it is a crime.

"The detectives in our East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit took time to really understand what was going on, supported her throughout the investigation, and built a strong case to show the extent of the offending by Conlon.

"The victim can now take back control of her own life."