Winsford woman who 'dehumanised' partner avoids jail

Sarah Rigby, of Sunningdale Close in Winsford,  has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years and handed a five-year restraining order.

The 41-year-old, who was studying to be a nurse, subjected her partner to controlling and coercive behaviour over several months.

Senior crown prosecutor Nicky Inskip of CPS Mersey Cheshire said: “Sarah Rigby subjected her former partner to months of cruel and dehumanising behaviour.

“She seemed intent on humiliating and degrading him in any way she could.

“On one occasion she threw him out of the house in his underwear and refused to allow him back in.

“She accused him of stealing from her and, at the same time, made him pay for things for her.”

Sarah Rigby was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years (Image: Facebook)

Mr Inskip added: “The abuse has had a substantial impact on this man who finally found the courage to break free from this toxic relationship and report Sarah Rigby’s behaviour to the police.

“Her treatment of him did not represent the normal ups and downs of a relationship. It was coercive, controlling and criminal.

"She admitted her guilt in the face of overwhelming evidence and has now been sentenced. We hope this is of some comfort to the victim.”

The couple's relationship began in July 2021 and within months Rigby had forced the victim to move into her home in Winsford.

He was made to store all his belongings in the garage and ordered to pay £700 a month rent, despite the fact Rigby’s father already owned the house.

Rigby soon took full control of all his finances, cut him off from his family and friends, and stopped him from being in the house alone.

As the relationship continued, Rigby stopped the victim from showering or using the toilet, meaning he had to go to a nearby pub, library, gym or supermarket.

She also made him sleep on the floor with all the windows open, controlled what he ate, forced him to pay for private treatments and made him pretend to be unwell to get prescriptions to fuel her codeine habit.

The victim was also subjected to physical assaults, including scratching, as well as verbal abuse, with Rigby calling him “a whale” and “dopey” among other things.

Rigby even told the victim “I need to get pregnant this month. If I don’t I’ll dump you.”

Her actions caused the victim to lose four stone in weight.

Rigby was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday (May 24) (Image: Newsquest)

The victim reported Rigby to the police in March 2022.

She initially denied the offences and blamed the victim, accusing him of being violent, coercive, controlling and manipulative.

The trial began on February 26 this year, with Rigby pleading guilty two days later.

She was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday (May 24) to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years.

She must complete 35 days of rehabilitation activity and has also been hit with a five-year restraining order, preventing her from contacting the victim or his parents.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Sophie Ward, said: “This is the worst case of controlling and coercive behaviour I have ever seen.

“Rigby had a stranglehold on the victim. Through her coercive behaviour, she was able to control everything he did, cutting him off from everyone he knew and leaving him trapped, feeling like he had nowhere to turn.

“While the victim will never be able to forget what happened to him, I hope that the conclusion of this case will help him to move forward and start to rebuild his life.”