A controlling man who pressured his partner into having his child and then prohibited her from breastfeeding, calling it “disgusting,” has been sentenced to prison.
Callum Shipley, 32, from Sunderland, subjected the woman to sustained emotional and psychological abuse, making her feel ashamed for wanting to nurse their child naturally.
During their two-and-a-half-year relationship, Shipley exerted control over nearly every aspect of the woman’s life, as revealed in Newcastle Crown Court.
His victim shared how he dictated what her children could watch on television and mistreated them, including her autistic daughter.
Jordan Parkinson, prosecuting, said: ‘She said he would control what the children would watch on TV. She said he hated her children and would bully them, including her daughter who has autism.
‘The defendant would tell the complainant when she could go out, who she could see and would make derogatory comments about her and her property.
‘He threatened to end the relationship if she didn’t have a contraceptive implant removed, forcing her to have a child with him. ‘She fell pregnant and he refused to let her breastfeed the baby, saying it was disgusting.’
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Shipley also attacked her while she was pregnant, prompting her to install CCTV in the home which captured him headbutting her during a later argument.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she had been left psychologically and emotionally damaged by his abuse. She said he continues to ‘haunt her mind’ despite being in custody.
The woman went on: ‘He forced me to have his child. I didn’t want to have a child with him. ‘He prevented me breastfeeding because he found it disgusting. He made me feel like a pervert simply for wanting to feed my own child.’
She said Shipley had ‘completely leeched on my resources’ after wasting his own money on drink, drugs and gambling. Shipley pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour, assault by beating and criminal damage.
He was jailed for 34 months and given an indefinite restraining order.
