Telford boss who stalked his partner and monitored her on their work CCTV is spared jail
Mark Henry of St. Georges admitted stalking and controlling the woman.
A Telford man who began a campaign of stalking and controlling behaviour of his girlfriend who he made work at his firm, has been spared jail.
Mark Henry, aged 47 of Durrant Road, St. Georges had begun the relationship with a former school friend after they became reacquainted following the death of her partner from cancer.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard on Thursday that once they started their relationship Henry encouraged his new girlfriend to work for him.
Mr Milo Macbeth, prosecuting, told the court that this was when the stalking and coercive behaviour began.
He said that Henry began monitoring the woman on the firm’s CCTV and began accusing her of infidelity and called her “degrading names”.
Henry would also control her money and encouraged her to buy a caron finance but would not let her drive it without his permission. He also threatened to speak to her new boss and get her fired if she ever left his employment.
Mr Macbeth said even when the relationship ended in August 2023, the stalking and control did not stop.
The barrister said on one occasion Henry smashed up her TV, would make hurtful remarks about her former partner dying, and grabbed and pushed her, bruising her leg on one occasion.
When the woman finally decided to report Henry to the police, he even turned up at the police station to stop her.
Mr Macbeth said Henry had admitted one count of stalking, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but had multiple previous convictions for offences against the person, which aggravated his offending
Mr Richard Davenport, mitigating, told Judge Trevor Meegan that the defendant had since begun a masculinity course to address his attitude to women.
The judge said this showed that Henry showed remorse but added that if Henry if had pleaded guilty to his offences a month earlier he would now be facing jail.
He said: “If you had pleaded guilty in March I could not suspend this sentence,” but added new sentencing guidelines. He handed Henry a two-year, eight-month sentence but suspended it for two years.
However, Henry was also ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work, was handed a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for two years and he was also ordered to pay £1,630 in court costs and £1,000 in compensation.