A dad sent disturbing self-harm photos to his girlfriend in a warped attempt to control and manipulate her.
James Dye, once convicted of killing a teenage motorcyclist in a hit-and-run in Chatham, also monitored his partner’s calls and texts, checked her device while she slept and blocked her contacts.
He even criticised her if he thought she wore too much make-up and made comments about the way she dressed.
The victim was left so traumatised by the 29-year-old’s behaviour that she no longer felt life was worth living, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
But although he was jailed for what a judge described as “particularly insidious and unpleasant” conduct, Dye was expected to be almost immediately released from custody due to time already served on remand.
The woman and Dye had been in a relationship since 2019.
But following a row at her home in which he pushed her against a wall, causing reddening to her neck, Dye’s controlling and coercive behaviour came to light during a subsequent police investigation.
Prosecutor Nathan Fitzpatrick told Dye’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday (January 28) that his conduct “went to the heart” of such an offence.
“James Dye used tactics such as monitoring phone calls, monitoring text messages and monitoring his partner’s phone when she was asleep,” he told the court.
“He used that phone to stop other people contacting her, effectively isolating her.”
Referring to an image Dye sent to his partner but was not shown in court the prosecutor added: “He used self-harm as a tactic to increase his control over the victim.
“This demonstrates the level of control and coercive behaviour he intended to inflict on her.”
Of the physical row which ended their relationship, Mr Fitzpatrick said Dye, of College Road, Maidstone, had accepted “pushing out” at the woman.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, she described how both she and her daughter had been left “scared” by his behaviour.
“Every day I feel anxious to leave the house. I feel worthless and like life isn’t worth living any more,” the mum explained.
“Every time I go out and leave the house I look over my shoulder and feel wary he might be there.
“I am genuinely traumatised by these events and feel my mental health is declining.”
Dye later admitted engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between May 14 and June 18 last year.
His 17 convictions for 32 offences include one in 2018 of causing the death of 19-year-old Ismael Brittain by careless driving and for which he was jailed for two years and four months.
The teenager was run over and killed by Dye after Mr Brittain had fallen from his motorcycle in Princes Avenue, Chatham, on January 2 that year.
Dye, who only held a provisional driving licence at the time, had a child in his car and was on bail for an unrelated offence of dangerous driving, fled the scene.
At his sentencing hearing this week, the court heard his other convictions include breach of a non-molestation order and five offences of violence.
Ethan Dighton, defending, said Dye’s diagnosed conditions of Asperger’s and ADHD impact his “decision-making and everyday life”, and said he had had “significant difficulties” while on remand for the past seven months, including bullying by other inmates.
But he said a move to a neurodiversity prison wing had provided “a turning point” with better support, the opportunity to obtain a cleaning job and to take a business studies course.
Explaining that Dye hoped to set up a vehicle recovery business on his release, Mr Dighton added: “He has used his time in custody to address his mental health and make positive plans for the future.”
Passing sentence, Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring told Dye his relationship with his girlfriend had been “typified” by his controlling behaviour, with “particularly insidious” references to suicide.
“You sent images of yourself self-harming. That is a particularly unpleasant way to control and coerce somebody,” he said.
“The reason you did that was to try and get her to stay in the relationship with you. You were causing her to believe if you were to break up, she would be the cause of any harm to yourself.”
Stating that his criminal record was an aggravating feature, the judge said the offence was so serious that only immediate imprisonment could be imposed.
Jailing Dye for 15 months he told him: “This was, in essence, a prolonged period of controlling and coercive behaviour against your partner.
“She was entitled to think it was safe to be with you and should not have to put up with this behaviour.”
Dye was also made subject to a five-year restraining order.
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