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Detectives are encouraging victims of controlling and coercive behaviour to come forward after a man who admitted such crimes was jailed today (Tuesday 5 August).
After first meeting his victim, Dean Final began to control her life over several months.
His actions were brought to the attention of police early last year when his victim told a family member what happened and a report was made.
She told officers from Signal - our specialist rape and serious sexual violence investigation team - that Final had also raped her twice just days prior to the report being made and that he had also suffocated her.
In interview, detectives were told how 31-year-old Final had tried to prevent her from leaving the house by keeping her keys and bank card from her. He also repeatedly asked her to verify her location and send photos of where she was as he would accuse her of being with other men.
His actions meant she became alienated from her family and friends and Final even used her social media accounts to message one of her family members.
Final, now of HMP Leicester, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour, which included suffocation, when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on 9 June.
Today he was sentenced to a total of 11 years and eight months’ imprisonment. He was also made subject to an 18-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and an indefinite restraining order.
The sentence also includes assault, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation and criminal damage offences committed in Lancashire. These cases were not part of the Leicestershire Police investigation.
Detective Constable Caitlin Duggan, from Signal, said: “From very early on in this investigation it was apparent that Final wanted to completely control every aspect of the victim’s life.
“She said he’d told her that if he couldn’t have her, no-one could. It’s difficult to comprehend just what must’ve been going through her mind.
“Throughout our enquiries she showed immense bravery in providing information that allowed us to build a case which left him no alternative but to admit what he’d done. Thankfully, this meant she didn’t have to re-live her ordeal in front of a jury.
“I hope today’s outcome provides her with a degree of closure and allows her to move on with her life.
“The force takes reports of sexual offences, controlling and coercive behaviour and domestic abuse extremely seriously. I also hope this case encourages any other victims of such behaviour to speak out and make a report to police.”
Charlotte Caulton-Scott from the Crown Prosecution Service said:
“Dean Final has been exposed for what he really is – a violent, manipulative and controlling individual. He is where he belongs now, where he cannot do any more harm to women.
“There was absolutely no merit in claiming he had not been in control because of sexsomnia. Prosecutors recognised immediately that this was just an attempt to shirk responsibility for his violent conduct. We will continue to challenge the myth of sexsomnia because in the vast majority of cases, it is simply not justified.
“The use of physical and sexual violence in a relationship is abhorrent. I am so glad that his victims were able to escape the hold he had on them and receive the protection from the law they deserve.”