Winsford man jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour

A man has been jailed for more than five years after he pleaded guilty of controlling and coercing a woman in Winsford.

Joshua Verdin appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 11 October where he was sentenced to five years and two months in prison.

The 26-year-old, of Abbots Way, Winsford, previously pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour and several counts of assault.

The court heard how Verdin had been in a relationship with the victim for a number of years, throughout which he had controlled the victim and isolated her from her friends and family.

During their relationship he regularly accused the victim of being unfaithful and even claimed that she was working as a prostitute.

On one occasion, Verdin stole the victim’s glasses and took a photo of them at another man’s house, before accusing her of having an affair with the man.

He also restricted her personal hygiene, prevented her from going on diets or straightening her hair, claiming that she was she only doing it to impress other people.

Verdin also demanded money from the victim and had her personal bank details saved on his mobile phone.

He would regularly check her mobile phone, deleting messages and would also sleep with the phone in his pocket to prevent her from contacting anyone else.

During the relationship, Verdin was also physically and verbally abusive towards the victim, and often threatened to kill her if she was ever unfaithful.

On one occasion he also pushed her out of bed following an argument while she was pregnant, causing bruising to her elbow. On another occasion, he also kicked her on the body and head, which caused her ear to split.

The offences came to light in January 2024 when the victim’s mother reported her concerns to police.

Verdin was subsequently arrested and later charged in relation to the offences.

Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Charlotte Wilson, who led the investigation, said:

“Firstly, I would like to praise the victim for having the courage to speak out, as well as the bravery that she has shown throughout the investigation.

“Verdin had completely dominated the victim, his controlling behaviour isolated her from her family and his actions left her both physically and mentally scarred.

“He accused the victim of being unfaithful, but in reality, he was the cheat, and the victim had done nothing wrong.

“Thankfully he has now been held accountable for his actions, and everyone knows what a coward he really is.

“As this case demonstrates, for anyone suffering through domestic violence, there is always hope, and the police will always take your experience seriously and ensure you are heard.”

If you, or someone you know, are a victim of domestic abuse please report it by calling 101 or visiting: 

www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us

In an emergency always call 999.

Pictured - Joshua Verdin of Abbots Way in Winsford.