Christopher Barfe 35

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A MAN who made his now ex-partner suffer from two years' of his bullying and angry outbursts during their relationship is now behind bars.

Christopher Barfe was given a 32-month prison sentence for his violent and controlling behaviour with his former partner.

But he also received a further, consecutive sentence of two years for sexual offences committed in drink against an underage girl in a separate case.

The 33-year-old defendant, of South Street, Sherburn Village, who admitted some of the offences, but who denied and was convicted of the sex matters after a trial earlier this year, received the total sentence of 56-months at Durham Crown Court, after victim statements were read to the hearing.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, described Barfes controlling behaviour during the relationship as, persistent, over a prolonged period, with the use of multiple methods and a fear of violence on many occasions, causing significant psychological harm.

His assaults on the fearful woman included hair pulling, kicking and strangulation, and led to the victim moving house to escape the trauma, suffering flashbacks from the ordeal.

He would regularly check her phone, accusing her of infidelity, and he even set up a fake alias account to check her online activity.

When a male associate made a comment saying he liked a picture of her on her Instagram page, Barfe went into a rage, calling her poison, and, the worst woman I ever met.

He put his hands to her throat, choked her until she fell to the floor crying in pain, while on another occasion Barfe took out a gun he owned and she feared she would be shot, while he also told her he would, chop her up.

Among her injuries were a blackened eye and cuts about the head.

Miss Waugh said the offences with the girl involved inappropriate kissing and performing a sex act in her presence.

Barfe denied all the offences at his initial crown court hearing, but subsequently admitted three charges of assault against his ex-partner and on the day of trial, a further count of controlling and coercive behaviour in a relationship.

But he was convicted after a three-day trial of two counts of sexual assault and one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Brian Russell, for Barfe, said he was only lightly previously convicted and, since being remanded in custody, after the trial verdicts in January, has acknowledged the offences committed against the girl.

He does genuinely appear to have acknowledged the harm he has done, unlike most defendants who wallow in denial.

Mr Russell added that much of the defendants offending was against a background of, his unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

Jailing him, Judge Ray Singh told Barfe: You were, Im afraid to say, a bully.

He made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order forbidding unsupervised contact with underage girls, as well as notification as a sex offender, both for ten years.

Retraining orders also prohibit him from contacting or approaching either victim, also for ten years.