Sadistic serial abuser who force-fed woman cigarette butts is locked up for years of cruel attacks

Philip Mutch, formerly of Shrewsbury but now of Capern Grove, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to five charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of controlling or coercive control behaviour, when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court – sitting at Telford Justice Centre.

Jonathan Dickinson, prosecuting, told how 40-year-old Mutch had previously been jailed for similar behaviour to another woman.

The court was told of shocking violent attacks on the Shrewsbury victim over around three years – including while she was pregnant.

Mr Dickinson explained that Mutch was "routinely paranoid" and "obsessed by the idea his partner had been unfaithful".

The court was read details of a catalogue of incidents where the victim was subjected to extreme violence and degrading acts – repeatedly spitting in her face, forcing her to eat cigarette butts from an ashtray, and stubbing cigarettes out on her body.

Mr Dickinson said on one occasion Mutch, who did not live with the woman, burst into her home at 5am ranting and looking for other men.

During the incident Mutch threatened to throw the woman, who was pregnant at the time, down the stairs.

He also punched and kicked her, as well as strangled her.

On another occasion when Mutch had been drinking he embarked on a terrifying violent assault. During the attack he slapped her to the face, pinned her against a wall, strangled her and bit her face.

He also kicked her in the spine – with the woman already suffering from long-standing back issues - pulled her onto the sofa by her hair and punched her with a full fist between the eyes.