A CONTROLLING girl made her boyfriend swallow toothpaste and branded him a “fat whale” in a vile campaign of abuse.
Sarah Rigby, 41, drove Gareth Jones to the brink of suicide after repeatedly belittling and bullying the NHS project manager.
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Sarah Rigby controlled her boyfriend in a vile campaign of abuse Credit: Cavendish
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Gareth Jones was on the verge of suicide Credit: Cavendish
The student nurse called the 40-year-old fat and made him eat contorted salads to lose weight.
She also forced him to wear a hat after making fun of his hair and made him swallow toothpaste after she falsely claimed he had bad breath.
Rigby also kept control of Gareth’s £4,000-a-month salary, kicked him out of the house in his underwear and checked his mobile phone.
The mother-of-six admitted coercive behavior but avoided jail and was instead given a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Gareth bravely revealed how Rigby even taunted him during the case by appearing at Chester Crown Court with a £400 Marc Jacobs bag he was ordered to buy during a shopping spree at Harrods.
He added: “After the abuse started, the effect of the constant belittling and abuse made me nervous, humiliated and worthless. My self-image became distorted and I had low self-esteem – I still feel that way to some extent.
”When she said things like I had bad breath and made me drink half a bottle of Listerine or eat toothpaste, I started to believe there was something wrong with me.
”I had regular bruises all over my body from Sarah hitting, biting, scratching or clawing at me. I was nervous to go to my GP because I was afraid he would find out and beat me further.
“I don’t feel ready for a relationship anymore because I’m still afraid of being abused again. Right now I don’t feel like I can trust another woman.
“When I go out in public and see someone with the same haircut and color as Sarah, I get scared. I also feel nervous telling people what happened to me because of the stigma behind men not being seen as victims of domestic abuse.
”I think I will always be emotionally affected by the effects of the abuse I suffered.
The court heard how the pair got together in 2021 after meeting on Plenty of Fish.
Gareth moved in with Rigby soon after, but she soon became controlling and told him he needed to lose weight if they wanted to stay in the relationship.
His mother restricted what he ate, mocked him for his sexual behavior and “searched” him before leaving the house.
If she went out, Rigby made Gareth wander the streets until she returned and regularly branded him ‘fat’, ‘lazy’, ‘sweaty’, ‘whale’, ‘stupid’, ‘fat’, ‘stinky’ and ‘ dog”.
She also kept control of his finances, made him sleep on the floor as “punishment”, denied him use of the toilet at home and made up false claims that he had assaulted her.
Rigby once told him, “If I don’t get pregnant this month, I’ll find someone else to have sex with and get pregnant. I have to get pregnant this month. If I don’t, I’ll dump you.”
The mean student nurse also physically abused Gareth and left a scar on his nose after hitting him with a glass candlestick.
Rigby, who only allowed Gareth to shower every few days, grabbed his face and threatened to beat him up.
The ordeal came to an end in March 2022 when brave Gareth contacted the police.
During the police interview, Rigby falsely claimed that the victim was violent, coercive, controlling and manipulative towards her.
In addition to a suspended prison sentence, she was also given a five-year restraining order.
Sentencing, Mr Recorder Eric Lamb said: ”Your conduct had a significant adverse effect on Mr Jones, who even today, when speaking about the impact of the relationship on him, was clearly close to tears and in great distress.
“There were multiple methods of controlling or coercing behavior intended to humiliate and degrade him.”
If you are affected by any of the problems mentioned in this article, call Samaritans for free on 116123.
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Rigby made Gareth sleep on the floor, restricted what he ate and called him fat Credit: Cavendish
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She also banned him from using the toilet at home and restricted his finances Credit: Cavendish
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She avoided prison after admitting coercive behaviour. Credit: Cavendish
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Source: HIS Education