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PURE EVIL
Brute's "despicable" campaign of abuse "significantly contributed" to mum's death
- Holly Christodoulou, Digital Court Editor
A CONTROLLING boyfriend whose girlfriend took her own life over his abuse has been jailed for longer after a brave ex came forward.
Marc Masterton, 26, waged a "despicable" campaign of abuse againstChloeHollandthat "significantly contributed" to her death.
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He was jailed for 45 months in October last year after he admitted coercive and controlling behaviour and aggravated vehicle taking
Masterton has now been handed a further 43 months in jail after one of his exes came forward to reveal the "torture" she suffered at his hands.
Zoe Castle bravely spoke out after learning Chloe had tragically taken her own life.
The mum, who was 18 when she went out with Masterton, says she has been left riddled with guilt over not going to the police sooner.
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Ms Castle was repeatedly beaten by the thug and was even forced to get a tattoo of his name.
Masterton forced her to stay in a freezing cold bath in one act of "torture" and strangled the mum.
He also manipulated the vulnerable teen into staying with him by threatening that social services would take her daughter away if she went to the police.
In a powerful victim impact statement, Ms Castle said: "The impact both at the time and now, I cannot really put into words.
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"I lived in constant fear of being beaten or losing the most precious thing in my life, my daughter.
"That's what Marc did, he made me know I had no choice but to stay and accept his constant abuse.
"I was his property.
"I have ever since struggled to trust any man in a relationship."
Ms Castle told Portsmouth Crown Court how she lost her confidence and now suffers from PTSD as a result of the horror.
She also told how the guilt in not reporting Masterton sooner will "never go away".
Speaking about Chloe's death, she added: "The guilt I have felt about not supporting a police investigation was huge.
"I was suicidal on a number of occasions.
"When I found out Chloe had taken her own life, it broke my heart."
Masterton admitted controlling or coercive behaviour and was handed a restraining order.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis –messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides alive chat service- available weekdaysfrom8am-6pmand weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Bowes KC said: "Zoe Castle spoke about the guilt she felt about not being able to support police earlier.
"I want to make one matter plain, Zoe Castle is not in any way to blame for what happened to her and she is not in any way to blame for the coercive behaviour suffered by Chloe Holland.
"You alone are responsible for the coercive abuse you inflicted on her and Chloe Holland.
"Far from being blamed, Zoe Castle has to be praised for her bravery in coming forward now."
Masterton isolated 23-year-old Chloe from her friends and family and regularly beat and belittled her.
He deliberately gave her black eyes so she could not see her baby son, ordered her to self harm with a knife and told her to kill herself.
The brute regularly attacked Chloe at his home and athotelsand onpublic transportacross Hampshire.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is whyThe Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others…You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM,www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMENwww.wearehumen.org
- Mind,www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
He battered the mum with a dumbbell and told her to "say goodbye" to her son after beating her savagely at a Travelodge.
Masterton also controlled what Chloe wore and tracked her phone so when she managed to escape his clutches, he could "suck her back in to his cycle of abuse".
Tragically, Chloe hanged herself on February 1 last year following the "utterly unforgivable" ordeal.
The court heard the "physical and psychological impact of the abuse significantly contributed to the demise of Chloe's mentalhealth".
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She bravely reported thehorrortopolice, with her evidence used posthumously to convict Masterton.
Chloe's devastated family previously said they would be "scarred forever" following her death.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on116123.
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