VILE ABUSE
Controlling girlfriend forced lover to swallow toothpaste, branded him a ‘fat whale’ & ridiculed performance in bedroom
Student nurse kicked boyfriend out in his underwear, taunted his appearance and restricted his finances
A CONTROLLING girlfriend forced her boyfriend to 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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The student nurse called the 40-year-old fat and made him eat salads in a warped bid to make him lose weight.
She also forced him to wear a hat after ridiculing his hair and made him swallow toothpaste after wrongfully claiming he had bad breath.
Rigby also kept control over Gareth's £4,000-a-month wages, threw him out the house in his underwear and checked his mobile phone.
The mum-of-six admitted coercive behaviour but avoided jail and was instead handed a 20-month jail term suspended for two years.
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Gareth bravely revealed how even during the case, Rigby taunted him by showing up to Chester Crown Court with a £400 Marc Jacobs bag he was ordered to buy during a shopping trip to Harrods.
He added: "After the abuse started, the effect of being constantly belittled and abused made me nervous, feel degraded and worthless. My image of myself became distorted and I had low self esteem - I still feel like this to a degree.
''When she used to say things like I had halitosis and forced me to drink half a bottle of Listerine or eat toothpaste, I started to believe that I had things wrong with me.
''I had regular bruising on my body from when Sarah used to kick, bite, scratch or claw me. I was nervous to consult my GP for fear she would find out and beat me further.
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"I no longer feel open to having a relationship as I'm still afraid that I'll be abused again. I do not feel l can trust another woman at present.
"When I am out in public and I see someone with the same hairstyle and colour of Sarah's, I become scared. I also feel nervous about telling people what has happened to me due to the stigma behind males not being seen as victims of domestic abuse.
''I think I will always be emotionally scarred by the effects the abuse that I've suffered.”
The court heard how the couple got together in 2021 after meeting on Plenty of Fish.
Gareth moved in with Rigby shortly after but she soon became controlling and told him he needed to lose weight if they were to remain in a relationship.
The mum restricted what he ate, taunted him over his sexual performance and "frisked" him before leaving the house.
If she was going out, Rigby made Gareth wander the streets until she returned and regularly branded him 'fat”, “lazy”, “sweaty”, “a whale”, “dopey”, “thick”, “smelly” and a “dog”.
She also kept control of his finances, made him sleep on the floor as "punishment", barred him from using the toilet at home and made up false claims he had assaulted her.
On one occasion, Rigby told him: "If I’m not pregnant this month, I am going to find someone else to have sex with and get pregnant. I need to get pregnant this month. If I don’t, I’ll dump you.''
The evil student nurse also physically abused Gareth and left him with a scar on his nose after hitting him with a glass candle holder.
How to get help
Men can call Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at (Wednesday 10am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm).
Alternatively, ring on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm) or email [email protected]
Rigby, who only let Gareth shower every few days, clawed at his face and threatened to have him beaten up.
The ordeal came to an end in March 2022 when brave Gareth contacted police.
During her police interview, Rigby falsely claimed the victim had been violent, coercive, controlling and manipulative towards her.
As well as a suspended jail term, she was also subjected to a five-year restraining order.
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Sentencing, Mr Recorder Eric Lamb said: ''Your conduct has led to a substantial detrimental effect upon Mr Jones, who even today when speaking of the impact of the relationship upon him was plainly close to tears and in great distress.
"There were multiple methods of controlling or coercive behaviour intended to humiliate and degrade him.''
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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