A MAN who starved his girlfriend, made her sleep in a cupboard, and tied her up before suffocating her until she passed out has been jailed.
Louis Dixon, 32, of Bedford Street, Gloucester, also hit her around the head so hard that he burst her eardrum. Gloucester Crown Court heard that Dixon, who has Asperger's syndrome, inflicted physical and emotional harm to his girlfriend for three years.
It only ended in 2012 when she confided in her doctor.
He admitted five counts of grievous bodily harm and one count of criminal damage at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday.
A judge heard Dixon met Victoria Collier in 2002, but their relationship turned sour in 2009 when she began regular visits to accident and emergency with injuries.
Prosecuting Ian Fenny, said these trips came after he punched her in the head, which burst her ear drum, and broke her nose so badly she needed surgery. Mr Fenny said: "Louis showed sympathy, empathy and support towards Victoria, who soon became dependent on him."
He said that one occasion Dixon made her stand in the hallway and he starved her.
Later on the same day he tied her up on the bed, forced nuts into her mouth and pressed her neck until she lost consciousness. He then rang her mother Lois, said Mr Fenny.
Mrs Collier rushed to the house, but was not allowed to untie her daughter for two hours.
On November 4, 2011 Dixon smashed up Mrs Collier's house, breaking ornaments and throwing her crockery and 'in the process damaged her leg'.
Victoria's torture came to an end when she confided in a doctor that she was suffering from abuse.
In defence, the judge heard Dixon had changed and better understood how to keep his temper under control.
Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Dixon he had taken into account his tough childhood and his mental health in sentencing him.
But he said: "You have hit her so hard on the nose that she had to have three months of treatment.
"I have to take into account that you made her sleep in a cupboard and that you are a danger to a section of the public."
Dixon was sentenced to five and half years in prison and will be on licence for four and half years after he is released.