A woman who became homeless after losing her job due to the coronavirus pandemic ended up living in a garage with a Spice addict who began bullying and attacking her, a court heard.
Nathan Mellor, 25, has been jailed for 27 months after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour during their relationship, which lasted for a few weeks in the summer.
He previously had been locked up for two years for an attack on another partner.
The woman, 24, met Mellor after losing her job and becoming homeless.
The couple began living in a garage behind a derelict pub in Ancoats as they had 'nowhere else to go', Manchester Crown Court heard.
Within the garage there was some heating and space for them to sleep.
Prosecutors said that the couple would head into Manchester city centre during the day, before returning to the garage when it went dark.
During July and August Mellor started 'bullying' her and acting in a 'violent' way.
On one occasion, she had fallen asleep and was woken to find Mellor slapping her 'as hard as he could' as he called her names.
He picked up a hammer and threatened to 'cave her head in with it'.
On another occasion, he became aggressive and started pulling her hair and told her to leave the garage.
She went to leave but Mellor then dragged her back and started punching her.
"You're not going anywhere, I'm going to terrorise you," Mellor said.
On another occasion at the garage, Mellor grabbed her hair and dragged her around.
They began to fight each other as she acted in self defence, and Mellor bit her on the nose causing it to bleed.
Later the pair were given accommodation at a hotel in Fallowfield, which was being used for homeless people during the pandemic.
Staff at the hotel overheard a threatening comment Mellor made to her.
He said: "I'm going to kick your f****** head off its shoulders."
Mellor left the hotel without her, and she told staff about his behaviour.
They noticed how her behaviour changed once he had left, and she became 'bubbly' and 'engaging', prosecutor Kate Gaskell said.
In 2018, Mellor received a two year sentence for attacking a former partner.
He was said to have a 'serious record of domestic violence'.
It's not clear whether his latest victim was aware of his criminal past.
Defending, Michael Knowles said Mellor pleaded guilty which prevented his victim from having to relive her ordeal in court.
He said Mellor has mental health problems, but he has not had accommodation for a 'significant period of time' which makes it difficult for him to receive medication.
Mellor, of Gladeside Road, Wythenshawe, has also been using Spice 'on a regular basis', the court heard.
Judge Alan Conrad QC told him: "You subjected your partner, who was a vulnerable young woman, to bullying, violent and controlling behaviour, which took place on a number of occasions.
"In doing that, you caused her physical and mental suffering."
A restraining order was also passed, to last indefinately.
