A MAN controlled his disabled partner’s life to such a extent that she could not make a decision for herself, a court heard.

Bolton Crown Court was told how 46-year-old Richard Donaghy met his partner in 2009 and within a week he had moved in with her.

Hugh McKee, prosecuting, told how the woman has a number of health problems and he acted as her carer but became controlling, monitoring who she could speak to and what she was spending.

In 10 years she only went out alone once.

And she became frightened when she looked at his phone and discovered he had been searching for information about weapons and he sent her a message stating, “Something dark will happen in this house soon”.

Donaghy once told her he could kill someone and no one would know because he would feed the body to pigs.

After becoming more depressed the woman contacted police and on May 12 he was arrested.

When questioned Donaghy, of Sixth Avenue, Bolton, initially denied committing an offence but then admitted he had been coercive, involved in behaviour such as checking the woman’s finances.

In a victim statement read out in court the woman stated she feels “like a weight has been lifted. I no longer have to ask permission."

“I have done this not just for me but other women. I do hope Richard gets the help he needs,” she added.

Donaghy was sentenced to a 7pm to 6am curfew for 90 days and ordered to participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities.

A restraining order was made banning him from contacting his victim.