Jehovah's Witness racked up debts while controlling wife's access to money

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Controlling Peter Adams splashed out beyond his means on himself while keeping a tight grip on what his wife was allowed to buy.

Adams met his future wife through their Jehovah's Witness faith when she was 17 and he was 28 and they began dating when she turned 18, a court heard.

But their marriage turned sour, with Adams exerting "complete control of the family finances" and his partner only allowed to use a card to do grocery shopping.

Meanwhile "due to the excessive spending of the defendant on himself", debts of £10,000 were accrued in both of their names.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he was out most evenings and would eat in restaurants without his wife and child.

And after one argument he locked her in their home and when she tried to climb out of the bathroom window, he prevented her from doing so.