He was also handed a 10 year restraining order in the case.
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 3 hours ago
A former Sheffield boxer has been handed a three year three month prison sentence for subjecting his ex-partner to years of abuse.
46 year old Richard Hayes, of Greenview Drive, initially denied engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour but changed his plea ahead of a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
A charge of assault and two counts of casing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal were dismissed at court.
He was also handed a 10 year restraining order in the case.
Hayles is a former pro-boxer, who once fought under the name Richard Towers. He has previously served time in prison for his role in a kidnapping.
In a victim impact statement, Hayles’ ex-partner said: “I think it’s ironic that two years ago today we spoke for the first time, and today I am stood here speaking to you for the very last.”
“And this is never how I expected this to end, but if we could go back I wish we had left it at a simple hello.
“I always taught my children to stand up to bullies, but I never stood a chance against you. So they had to watch as you broke me down more and more every day. And that’s why I am stood here today, for them.
“I don’t think I will ever understand why you did all those things to me, especially as I pandered to your every need, loved you and treated you like a king.
“And I never deserved any of what you did to me. None of it. You convinced me that love meant enduring pain and sticking by you no matter what, and it was so much more than what ‘you decided to plead guilty’ for. I think you only did that to regain some control and stop the whole truth coming out.
“You left me fearing for my life on numerous occasions, and I still do now because of the threats you have made. You got me to my very lowest at the end and where I was totally defeated and then you sat with your friend and told me a story of how suicide was the only way out for some people, taunting me. I would like to believe that was never intentional or that no one can be that evil but I will never know now.
“I had to survive through each day after the endless lectures, sleep deprived, starving while trying to keep life going for my children and work. Keeping my energy high so that you didn’t get angry for a wrong mood or tone. Just waiting for it to get back good again, all the time being degraded and humiliated.
“I don’t think I ever realised or gave myself credit for how strong I actually am and that is thanks to my children. You controlled every single aspect of my life, even the tiniest things and made me believe it’s just how a woman should be, and that I was lucky to have you.
“I do wonder if you feel any remorse for what you’ve done or genuinely do think you are ‘guilty’. But I am sure you will maintain you had the best intentions and made our lives better; it was far from it. Only a monster would show up and pretend to love someone, and then destroy them in the background.
“You took great pleasure in being in control, having power and taking away our peace so that you could be served and have yours. And as much as you liked to teach me, you were actually our biggest lesson. Who not to be, how not to be, what not to become and what not to accept.
“We’ve got our peace back now; our future looks bright again.”