Controlling Leeds boyfriend 'ruined' woman's life and threatened to kill her family

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
A controlling boyfriend left his partner in £22,000 worth of debt and threatened to kill her and her family if she left him.

Michael McManus was jailed this week for his campaign of coercive behaviour against his ex, and taking all of her money to spend on drink and drugs.

Leeds Crown Court heard that the 36-year-old would demand she hand over her earnings and sometimes lied to her that people were after him. He would lock her in her home, threatened to harm her and her family, and even threatened to self harm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He even said if he was jailed he would get someone to kill her and her family.

Statements from the woman were read to the court. She said that all she did was “cook for him” and she never left the house. She added: “It has been going on for five years. I feel constantly on edge.

“He takes all my money and uses it for drink. Since being with Michael my life has been ruined. I have tried to leave him a lot of times but he always ends up finding me. In the space of five years I’m now in £22,000 in debt because of money I gave him.

McManus (pictured) was jailed for 30 months for a campaign of coercive control over his partner. (pics by WYP / National World)McManus (pictured) was jailed for 30 months for a campaign of coercive control over his partner. (pics by WYP / National World)
McManus (pictured) was jailed for 30 months for a campaign of coercive control over his partner. (pics by WYP / National World) | WYP / National World

“I was never in debt before Michael. He took advantage of my kind and caring personality. I just want to be away from him and not be in fear anymore for my life and my family.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McManus, of Hyde Park Road, admitted coercive control from January 2020 to July of this year, making threats to kill and breach of a restraining order. The order had been imposed in October 2021, for three years, to keep him away from the woman.

It stemmed from a criminal damage case that was dealt with at the magistrates’ court. But having worked his way back into her life, it came to a head on July 21 this year, when she told him she was finally going to leave him.

At first he appeared to accept the decision, but he then became angry and a four-hour argument began, during which time he made vile threats. He told her: “I will f****** kill you. Even if I go to prison, prison is easy. I will know someone in there and get someone to kill you and your family. Your life won’t be worth living. Watch what happens.”

At one point the woman tried to call the police but he knocked the phone from her hand. McManus was later arrested and largely gave a no-comment interview to officers, although he did deny the allegations.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He has 18 previous convictions for 34 offences, including breaches of a non-molestation order.

Mitigating, Erin Kitson-Parker said his early guilty pleas were a sign of his remorse. She added: “The only thing he wanted to say was sorry and hopes that she can recover.

“The catalyst of his offending was drink and drugs. He is hugely sorry for what he has done. He has not minimised it. He knows that the relationship is over and sometimes love can be toxic.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said he has taken course in art and English since being held on remand.

The judge, Recorder Brian Whitehead, jailed McManus for 30 months and gave him a new five-year restraining order to keep him away from his ex partner.

Having been handed his sentence, McManus was permitted to speak and told the court: “I was a horrible person. I think this is God’s plan to change me. I’m 36, I’m not a child anymore and I do need to grow up.”

Related topics:
Leeds news you can trust since 1890
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice