A 'selfish' revenge porn bully who was previously convicted for battering up his victim found himself in the dock again today.
Anthony Ward, 40, of Stevenage Close, St Helens, was today slammed by a judge for his 'abusive, demeaning and controlling' behaviour of his victim.
She was left 'living in fear' of the bully who would "effectively blackmail" her with threats to share revenge porn, eventually posting them to her brother-in-law and new boyfriend.
In a statement the woman said she was 'manipulated into dropping charges' relating to a previous incident as she 'didn't want to have another beating'.
Jo Maxwell, prosecuting, said "Mr Ward and the complainant were in a relationship for some five years and have a three-year-old son."
She explained that Ward "would continue to telephone her and sent her text messages repeatedly in an effort to rekindle the relationship".
Ms Maxwell said on July 15, 2019, "the complainant received a text from the defendant that read 'This is your last chance to answer the phone otherwise I'm on my way down.
"'I'm not playing games, you're really p***ing me off and you're really pushing me to the limit again'".
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Ward went to the woman's home and was banging on her front door until he kicked the door in by "causing the door to come off its hinges".
Ms Maxwell said there was a "disturbance" and "allegations of violence" and when a neighbour entered Ward fled the property.
She said: "During the relationship the complainant did consent to a photograph being taken, which can rightly be described as a sexual photograph.
"Since their separation and the end of the relationship in July 2019 Mr Ward continually threatened to send the picture to members of the woman's family.
"When the complainant referred to that threat to her sister, her sister revealed in September of that year the defendant had sent the photograph to the sister's husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister had seen it also."
Ms Maxwell explained on January 22 last year Ward sent the photograph again, this time to his victim's new partner, and he also included threats to circulate the images around Croxteth and St Helens.
In a victim personal statement the woman said: "He did nothing but hurt and blackmail me and convinced me he was better than me.
"She was always in the wrong, he was always in control.
"I would forever be living in fear of him."
Ms Maxwell explained that in relation to a previous conviction of battery on the same woman she says he "never learnt from that" and "the abuse never stopped".
Reading the statement she said: "Eventually she called police again and he manipulated her into dropping the charges."
The woman said: "I didn't want to but I didn't want to have another beating."
She also "stopped speaking to many members of her family and Ward exercised "financial control" over her.
Ms Maxwell said: "She refers to a new relationship this defendant entered into and she fears for that relationship and the effect it is having on that partner."
The judge emphasized that Ward was only being sentenced for three charges brought in relation to one victim.
In the statement the woman said having the photo sent to family brought "great shame and upset to everyone involved."
Ms Maxwell said: "The woman was told by the defendant 'Lots of people have seen it and there's f*** all you can do about it'".
The court heard the woman had to have the door boarded up at her own expense and restoring the door would cost £1,600.
The woman also described Ward as a "bully" and "abusive".
Ms Maxwell explained that when it came to charge Ward the only offences considered were those that have a six month time limit attached and due to these time constraints no other charges were brought.
Ward has three previous convictions for two offences which include battery and criminal damage in 2016 relating to the same victim, for which he received a 12 month community order, unpaid work and Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.
Brendan Carville, defending, asked the judge to consider his guilty plea.
He said: "References speak of a different person to the person [the victim] speaks of.
"He was in a relationship with her, he had a son and when they broke up she wasn't allowing him to see her son."
Mr Carville said there was "no suggestion" of further offences being committed against the woman and explained Ward had adhered to conditions of his bail.
He said: "The delay here in many respects, the defendant may say fortunately, as had there been an earlier complaint, had the matter been looked at in more detail, there could have been charges of controlling behaviour, stalking and the like."
Mr Carville explained a probation officer said there was a "good prospect of rehabilitation", urging the judge to suspend any prison sentence.
Ward admitted two counts of disclosing a private sexual image and one count of criminal damage.
Recorder Mark Ford QC, sentencing, said: "You were in a relationship with your victim, sadly that relationship came to an end. You however were not prepared to accept that it was over.
"I am aware that before the end of that relationship you had conducted yourself in a bullying manner."
The judge said Ward had placed an "enormous strain" on the relationship.
Recorder Ford said: "It is no surprise to me it ended as it did, but your coercive and controlling behaviour didn't come to an end with the end of the relationship.
"Unable as you were to leave this woman to get on with her life you threatened her that you would disclose a private sexual image originally taken with her consent in order to cause her distress."
The judge said Ward was "calculating" for keeping the image because it gave him "some sort of hold over this woman which you sought to exploit for your own selfish purposes".
Recorder Ford said: "Before those images were forwarded however you effectively blackmailed your partner through the threat of disclosure."
The judge said: "You must be aware what you did had a serious impact on this woman.
"You have conducted yourself in an appalling fashion, your behaviour was abusive, demeaning and controlling.
"Your partner lived in fear of you, she became isolated from her family and you also, in order to control and coerce her, exerted some financial control over her.
"Disclosing of the image would have caused shame and embarrassment."
Recorder Ford said: "In the pre sentence report it's evident you see yourself as a victim."
The judge added in it Ward minimises his behaviour and "the likely impact of it on your victim".
Recorder Ford said: "She, unlike you, is to be commended for her bravery in reporting this matter to the police and standing up to you, a bully.
"This court is tremendously familiar with the conduct of men who seem to think they are entitled to treat women in this fashion.
"The courts, as you will learn, will not tolerate it."
A 10 year restraining order preventing Ward from contacting the woman was also imposed.
He was jailed for nine months.
