Jailed: Controlling bully forced gun into terrified partner's mouth
A brutal bully who threatened his terrified partner by forcing a gun into her mouth was starting a 26-month jail sentence today.
Heavy drinker Barry Marsh, from Dudley, became controlling and violent shortly after the relationship started, Wolverhampton Crown court was told.
"He suffered from jealousy and was constantly accusing her of looking at other men," said Miss Cathlyn Orchard, prosecuting.
Then on July 17, the 42-year-old thug punched his partner on the back of her head, threatened to kill her and returned to the room in her Kingswinford flat soon afterwards armed with a 9mm gun.
"It was an imitation but it looked very much like a real one," said Miss Orchard.
"He held it against her chin and forced it into her mouth."
The frightening incident lasted up to 30 minutes and was one of many in which she was often punched which took place before police were called on October 13, the day after she ended their relationship and Marsh warned he would "knock her teeth out, stamp on her neck and kill her".
Marsh, who had previous convictions for 24 offences including causing grievous bodily harm, wounding and assault, was traced to a Kingswinford pub and arrested the following day.
Mr Simon Hanns, defending, said: "This was a toxic relationship and many of the arguments arose at public houses."
Marsh, of Russells Hall Road, Dudley, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour and was sent to prison for 26 months by Judge Barry Berlin who said he had treated his ex-partner "like a punch bag".
