Taunton man, 41, sentenced ex-partner to 'living hell'

Daniel Cleal, 41, of Taunton, appeared in Taunton Crown Court on Wednesday, October 21.

Prosecutor Andy Pickett told the court Cleal subjected his former partner to controlling or coercive behaviour in Taunton between November 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025.

Recorder R Weekes said Cleal stopped the victim from walking alone, repeatedly checked where she was, waited for her uninvited and threatened to force his way into her home.

He also controlled what she wore, forced her to take a pregnancy test in front of him, shouted abuse, banged on her door and made her show him her flat over video.

The court heard Cleal ordered the victim to put her phone on loudspeaker when her then line manager called.

He then called her degrading names during the call.

Mr Pickett said: “One can only imagine the acute distress and embarrassment caused by such an incident.”

Some of Cleal’s abuse took place in front of children, the court heard.

The victim’s impact/personal statement was read out in court, in which she said: “I feel Daniel Cleal has robbed me.

“I can no longer relax even when I take a bath without the expectation that Daniel Cleal might burst into my home again to see what I am doing.

“This has affected how I look at myself and how I dress.

“I have been left feeling ashamed. Ashamed that I could allow myself to be repeatedly treated the way I have been treated.

“I hate that now I apologise constantly for little things because Daniel Cleal had me on eggshells so often.

“I feel embarrassed because of the continuous lies he told about me to fit his narrative.

“I was living a hell that has taken a toll on me to the point it has impacted my physical health.

“Coming out of the house scares me. I will be in a different mood whenever I return because I do not know what I will return to.”

The victim told the court she had stopped dating because her relationship with Cleal left her fearful of what other men might do.

She said: “I have become afraid of men now and I have zero trust in them or what they would say if I chose to date.

“I have chosen to abstain from men completely because of the behaviour of Daniel Cleal; I feel it is no longer worth the risk.

“I have self-doubt not only in myself but in my actions.

“I never saw what was coming; I never saw what Daniel Cleal was, only what he wanted me to see.

“I no longer care about Daniel Cleal and what he receives [in terms of] repercussions for his actions.

“He has stolen from and robbed me [emotionally], and I will always feel that impact. I never deserved it or the verbal abuse he put me through. It has left me paranoid.

“I just want accountability on his part so I can move forward without looking over my shoulder.”

Cleal initially denied the offence and blamed the victim, the court heard.

Mr Pickett said: “It is quite clear from my submission there is no accountability in the mind of the defendant.”

Four recordings were played in court, in which Cleal could be heard screaming at the victim and calling her degrading names, including a ‘c**t’ and a ‘w***e’.

Cleal has 10 previous convictions for 14 offences, including six against the person, and has breached community orders before, the court heard.

Mr Pickett said: “It does seem to me drugs, particularly cocaine, and alcohol, seem to be a strong factor.”

He described them as the “twin evils” underpinning the offending.

The court heard Cleal’s actions had a “substantial adverse effect on the day-to-day life of the victim”.

Defence barrister Barry White told the court each person in a relationship can experience events “quite differently”.

He said: “People can experience the same thing quite differently and how you interpret it can change once the relationship has come to an end.

“Mr Cleal accepts he acted in a coercive and controlling manner, so he does take accountability.”

Judge Weekes said: “For a period of nine months you engaged in a sustained period of controlling and coercive behaviour of your then partner.

“On one occasion you insisted on her putting her line manager on loudspeaker. Knowing it was being broadcast to him, you called her a w***e and a s**t, knowing it would maximise her distress.

“You caused significant psychological harm.

“Simply getting changed in the morning has become an emotional rollercoaster for her.”

He said the victim would be left “riddled with anxiety” even if she stopped to say hello to a male friend in the street.

He said: “[She is] terrified of dating men as she is terrified of what they could be capable of in light of dating you.”

The court found that there was domestic abuse present in this case.

Cleal was given a 19-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He must complete nine months of alcohol treatment as part of his probation and obey a five-year restraining order.