A homeless man moved in with a 'vulnerable' woman and started a relationship with her, then pawned her precious items and claimed to kill her cat.
Manchester Crown Court heard how Alistair Ian Peat, 52, moved in with the woman in 2017 after she offered to make him breakfast, noticing he was sleeping in his car. The pair became engaged in a relationship that 'went wrong', as Peat began to steal from her, pawning sentimental items and claiming to have drowned her cat.
The victim, who had learning difficulties and a number of health problems, was forced to miss meals and struggled to feed her cats as a result of Peat's 'financial exploitation'. He pleaded guilty to a charge of coercive and controlling behaviour on November 15, after what the judge called a number of 'mean and selfish offences'.
The court heard how between September 2017 and June 2020, Peat and the victim were in a relationship that saw him move into her house and propose to her. Prosecuting, Ms Cowem said the victim 'described not feeling like she had a choice about him moving in', and that Peat eventually became 'violent towards her and her pets'. He also pawned items including a ring and her hoover.
"He said he killed her pet cat, Tiny, by drowning," Ms Cowem said. "The behaviour has had a serious impact on the victim. She is particularly vulnerable by virtue of her personal circumstances, which were known by Peat."
The relationship ended in June 2020, when the victim's children became 'concerned' after Peat, who has 29 previous convictions, smashed plates in her property and was verbally abusive to her.
"I am worried that I might come into contact with him again," the victim said in a statement read out by Ms Cowem. "I stopped myself going places because I was worried about seeing him again. I had to leave my flat, which I loved. I had to start again."
Defending, Mr Nikolich said Peat 'started out with the best intentions', but that it 'all went wrong'. He said Peat had 'his own difficulties', and was battling a 30-year long heroin addiction. He also said Peat had taken on responsibilities of caring for the victim.
"It is of the greatest regrets that he has ended up where he is," he said.
Sentencing, Mr Recorder Usher said Peat had 'taken advantage of a very vulnerable lady' in a series of 'mean and selfish' offences.
"I accept for the first part there was no coercive behaviour, but it is apparent to me that your need to face your substance misuse problems increasingly isolated her from her friends and family so she would be increasingly reliant on you, making it easier for you to financially exploit her," he said.
"At times, your financial abuse of her left her with no food in the house for days on end. Your behaviour had a very serious impact on her. She was particularly vulnerable, as you knew."
Peat, of Rams Lodge Hostel, Manchester, was sentenced to 12 months in custody, and handed a restraining order against the victim for three years.
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