A CONVICTED drug dealer threw his sick wife out of the house by her dressing gown, potentially causing a slipped disc with the victim fearing he would kill her.

Lee Groves, who had been acting as her carer, also strangled her, kicked her, punched her and insulted her about her weight despite her being vulnerable because of her medical conditions including sciatica which meant she found herself 'spending most of the day in bed'.

The victim had told police she believed she was 'going to end up in a box, dead' at the defendant's hands and that she 'lived in fear' of him, said the prosecutor yet still wants to be reconciled with him once he gets out of jail.

 The 56-year-old defendant of Pike Close, Worcester, was jailed for 26 months at Worcester Crown Court after he admitted grievous bodily harm (section 20 - without intent) on October 21 last year, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (in July last year and November 23 last year) and a further count of controlling and coercive behaviour throughout last year.

In a letter, Groves said he was ashamed and disgusted by his actions towards his wife. Judge Nicholas Cole told Groves, who appeared over prison videolink, said: "You ought to be ashamed and disgusted."

The court heard how Groves had also previously threatened the same complainant, described as vulnerable by the judge, on February 17, 2020 holding a knife to her throat and saying: "You ain't leaving me - I will slit your throat."

Simon Phillips, prosecuting, said the wife had lived with Groves for 14 years but the two spent most of the time trying to stay out of each other's way.

"She describes his behaviour as being unpredictable and volatile," said Mr Phillips.

The complainant had spent two weeks in hospital with sciatica between October 1 and 13 last year and was also treated for a slipped disc on November 1 last year.

Mr Phillips said an argument occurred on November 23 last year when Groves refused to get his wife a cigarette and she shouted: "Do you think you can continue to live in my house for nothing?"

Groves then called her fat and used another insult. When she came downstairs and was putting food in the freezer, 'without warning he kicked her with such force she fell backwards onto the floor' said Mr Phillips.

"She screamed out in pain" he added. Groves kicked her a further two times to the back and started trying to punch her.

He also grabbed her by the dressing gown. "She thought it was the end and he would kill her" said Mr Phillips.

She asked him to stop and begged him to help her back upstairs and he seemed 'to calm down slightly'.

"The defendant then came towards her and with an open palm, slapped her face, hitting her nose, making it bleed," said Mr Phillips.

The prosecutor was saying: "He was pushing her towards the living room door in the direction of the stairs. He was saying 'you want help? I will help you!' and laughing."

The GBH in October last year happened after she started throwing his clothes out of the bedroom.

He picked her up by the lapels of her dressing gown and threw her out of the front door when she fell back and hit her head.

The prosecution say this was what caused the slipped disc.

The attack in July last year involved strangulation, putting his hands around her throat as he held her against a wall.

Judge Cole said: "She thought you were going to kill her because of the way in which you were acting and the comments you had made."

No restraining order was made because Groves's wife had written to him in prison saying she wanted to reconcile with him.