Dog Basket, Cruelty man Jailed

A psychiatric report showed Paul Lidford had a personality disorder
A 31-year-old man who subjected his girlfriend to abuse, including forcing her to lie in the dog basket, has been jailed for two years and five months.
Paul Lidford, from Denbigh, was convicted of four specimen assault charges at a trial in February.

Sentencing him at Mold Crown Court, the judge said he had sought to control with violence and verbal abuse.

Lidford was handed an indefinite anti- social behaviour order (Asbo), stopping him from approaching the 27-year-old.

Recorder Philip Marshall said the victim was still suffering from the treatment she had received at Lidford's hands.

You sought to control her, to dominate her, through violence and verbal abuse

Recorder Philip Marshall

During the trial, it emerged that over the course of their five-year relationship he had subjected her to abuse.

The jury heard that on about five occasions Lidford, a heating engineer, had forced her to lie in a dog's bed, and threatened that if she looked from under the blanket she would be assaulted.

Once, Lidford had kicked her repeatedly after she looked out from under the blanket, the court was told.

Swelling and bruising

The victim suffered swelling and bruising across her back and could not move, but Lidford had refused to call an ambulance.

The victim wept as she told the jury that she had reported matters to the police in the past, including an incident when Lidford whipped her with a dog lead.

But she had always withdrawn the allegations, believing that he loved her and would change.

Delivering his sentence, the judge said Lidford's former partner still suffered flashbacks and nightmares.

A psychiatric report showed Lidford had a personality disorder going back years.

He said: "During that relationship, I am satisfied, you sought to control her, to dominate her, through violence and verbal abuse.

"She felt worthless and despite everything said she had feelings towards you. She said on numerous occasions that she loved you."