Violent South Shields boyfriend left 'terrified' victim contemplating suicide to escape abusive relationship

Shocking violence and controlling behaviour left a woman contemplating suicide to escape her abusive boyfriend.

Paul Crossley lashed out at his vulnerable victim on several occasions resulting in a catalog of injuries, including a broken rib and collapsed lung. And when she eventually received hospital treatment against his will, Crossley sent her photos suggesting he was harming himself.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Crossley had recently left a 20 year relationship when he met his victim. But around one year into their relationship she discovered he had cheated on her and his controlling and abusive behaviour started to show.

The court heard that Crossley would slap his victim in the face if she said something he didn't like. He also made her delete her Facebook profile and prevented her from answering her phone, even if it was her daughter.

Vincent Ward, prosecuting, said Crossley would regularly inspect his victim's phone and in April 2022 found a message from a man asking her out on a date, to which she refused. However, he launched an attack on his victim.

Mr Ward said: "He punched and slapped her in the face and pulled her around by her hair. The punch was so hard she flew across the room and hit her head on the wall. Her face was bruised, she had a black eye, and a lump on her head as a result of that assault. Her ear was bruised inside and out."

The court heard that Crossley's behaviour became worse and the couple were in an on-off relationship for some time. But on July 14, 2023, Crossley contacted the woman and asked to see her. She visited his home and he once again inspected her phone, where he found another text from a man asking her out, which she declined.

Mr Ward added: "He became very angry. She describes him as being wild and berserk and he assaulted her again. This assault started with him striking her in the face as they sat together on the sofa. Then as they both stood he punched her in the ribs which caused her to fall onto the door. He then punched her again.

"Those punches made her short of breath. She was crying and she was in agony. She wanted to go to the hospital but he told her she didn't need to and said he believed that if she did she would grass him up."

The court heard that Crossley's victim waited three days before being persuaded by her daughter to visit the hospital. When she did receive medical attention she had a broken rib and a collapsed lung and required a drain to be inserted into her chest.

After being discharged from hospital on July 20, 2023, the court heard that Crossley sent this victim three photos, which included one image of himself with a belt around his neck and tied to a door handle, as well as two photos with blood on his arms which appeared to show he had harmed himself.

The court heard that Crossley's victim was scared to go to the police because she feared what her partner would do. And she even contemplated suicide to escape the abuse.

In a victim personal statement read out to the court, she said: "As the violence got worse my mental health got worse and I became more and more anxious. I'd feel really low and I wanted to kill myself to escape the situation."

In a further statement she added: "I feel completely broken. I feel like I've lost everything. I don't feel safe in my home. I feel on edge and suicidal. I shouldn't be made to feel like this. I'm absolutely terrified of the thought of him getting released."

Crossley, of Raynham Court, South Shields, who has 17 previous convictions, including threatening behaviour, possession of knives, wounding, and robbery when he was a child, was sentenced to two years suspended for two years.

Judge Gavin Doig added that Crossley must also attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and complete 200 hours of unpaid work. A restraining order was also imposed, preventing him from contacting his victim.

Katie Spence, defending, said the case had been a "huge wake up call" for Crossley and "the shock that he needed". She added that Crossley is now in a new relationship and is due to start employment next month. He is also drug and alcohol free, which he previously did not think was possible.

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