A SOUTH Cumbrian woman subjected to months of verbal abuse by her jealous boyfriend told a court he needs help.

That compassionate intervention prompted a Carlisle Crown Court judge to comment that the woman, who was left so traumatised she has been unable to work for several months, was a “thoroughly decent” person.

Andrew Lamptey, 54, pleaded guilty to subjecting the woman to controlling and coercive behaviour between March, 2022, and July of this year.

Prosecutor Zareen Alam-Cheetham outlined the facts, saying that the defendant was in a relationship with the victim for 14 months, the two having met over Facebook.

After four months together, they moved in together in at a property in Ambleside and initially the relationship was good, the court heard.

“But from early on," said the prosecutor, "he began to be jealous, accusing her of cheating – a constant theme throughout the relationship.”

The defendant repeatedly aimed verbal abuse at the woman, who worked as a nurse. When she booked a holiday in Turkey, he accused her – without any foundation in fact – of being motivated by a desire to have sex with other men.

In April, frustrated by his paranoia, the woman took a camping trip to Coniston on her own, sending him a photo of herself in tears and alone in her ten.

After this, he collected her and apologised.

Then, when she tried to help him get a job with a neighbour and he was contacted by the man, Lamptey accused her of sleeping with him. When the police got involved, he contacted her through a relative, she felt pressured to seeing him.

Again, he accused her of infidelity. He also attempted to get her to drop the charges he was now facing, which included taking her car without consent, an allegation he later admitted.

In her victim personal statement, the woman said she felt Lamptey needs help. “She said she spends a lot of time crying,” said Miss Alam-Cheetham. “She’s sad that she let another man treat her as he did.

“She struggles with sleep and has been on sick leave since May as it had started to affect her work.”
Claire Larton, defending, said the victim’s letter to the court, in which she explains that the defendant was affected by a traumatic childhood and upbringing, stood as mitigation for his offending.

Referring to offences of violence committed by Lamptey when he was a younger man, the barrister said: “He has learned to control his fists, but not his mouth… He recognises that he has to learn to control his mouth.”

He as ashamed of how he had behaved, she said.

The victim had suggested Lamptey was in desperate need of intensive therapy so that he begin to be the man she knows he could be.

Judge Nicholas Barker said the victim’s letter demonstrates “what a thoroughly decent and measured person she was.” He told the defendant that his behaviour towards the woman changed “because of his paranoia.”

The judge said Lamptey’s accusations were “wholly unjustified.” He bombarded her with abusive comments and her health suffered as a result. Judge Barker accepted the abuse involved no violence.

Despite the “most ridiculous” accusations she faced from him, and needing to have counselling because of his behaviour, she had done her best to help him.

Her intervention spoke volumes about what a decent human being she must be, continued the judge. He noted Lamptey's recognition that he needs help.

While Judge Barker accepted there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for Lamptey, he said the duration of the behaviour and its continuation even while he was on police bail meant the jail term could not be suspended.

He jailed Lamptey for 22 months.

A restraining order forbids any contact with the victim for three years and also bars Lamptey from entering Ambleside or Kendal.

For the driving offence, he imposed a 12-month ban, with an 11-month extension to cover the period he will spend in custody. As he left his prison video booth, the defendant thanked the judge.