Controlling abuser jailed for more than three years

A controlling bully who left his partner in fear of her life and sexually assaulted a second woman has been jailed for more than three years.

Kurt Starnes, aged 39, was reported to Northamptonshire Police in February 2023 by his brave victim after he had subjected her to months of threats and abuse including threatening to kill her.

The Force’s Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit (DAIU) began an investigation into Starnes’ actions, which uncovered his repeated physical and emotional abuse of the woman between September 2022 and February 2023.

His behaviour included stopping her from seeing friends, removing and damaging her phones to stop her calling for help, not allowing her to wear make-up, threatening to kill her, threatening to kill himself if she left him, making degrading comments and calling her names, and threatening to have one of her relatives harmed.

As a result, Starnes was charged with controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, appearing before magistrates on February 24, 2023, where he was remanded into custody to await trial.

Despite being behind bars, Starnes found a way to continue to contact the woman by telephone, making repeated calls pressuring her into withdrawing her support for the police investigation.

At a subsequent court hearing Starnes pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour and was released from prison before he had been charged over the calls he had made to the victim.

While awaiting sentence, he went on to sexually assault another woman, touching her against her will before trying to assault her again.

As a result of his further offending, Starnes went on to be charged with and admit counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, and perverting the course of justice.

Starnes, of Kingsthorpe Grove, Northampton, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on April 22 for sentence, and was jailed for a total of 37 months for the four offences.

He was also issued with a restraining order lasting until October 22, 2027, preventing him from contacting the survivor in any way directly or indirectly, including on social media, and banning him from entering her street. Starnes was also ordered to pay a £228 surcharge.

One count of possession of Class B drug (amphetamine) in Wellingborough on October 20, 2023, which Starnes had admitted, was ordered to lie on file.

One count of exposure intending to cause alarm or distress, in Gillitts Road, Wellingborough, on October 3, 2023, which Starnes had denied, was also ordered to remain on file.

Speaking after sentencing, investigating officer PC Rachel Powell, of DAIU North, said: “Kurt Starnes has been shown in court to be a controlling bully who put his former partner through hell during their relationship.

“He repeatedly belittled her, humiliated her, restricted what she could do and who she could see, and resorted to threats and physical violence to get his own way.

“Thankfully she found the courage to report his unacceptable and abusive behaviour to us, and even when he continued to try to control her from prison, the information she had already shared made sure he was held to account.

“She is an amazing woman who is growing in confidence day by day and is now so different from the shell of a person I met a year ago, when she had first escaped Starnes’ abuse.

“She deserves nothing but happiness in her future and I hope seeing Starnes admit these offences and rightly be jailed for them provides her some comfort as she continues to heal and recover.

“Northamptonshire Police takes all forms of violence against women and girls very seriously, including controlling and coercive behaviour and sexual violence.

“No-one should have to live in fear of someone who claims to love them. When you are ready to report to us, we will listen to you, support you, and do all we can to secure justice for you.”

*This report and custody image have been released with the support of the victim survivors. Anyone reporting sexual assault or abuse has the legal right to lifelong anonymity.*

If you have suffered any form of domestic or sexual abuse, report it by calling 101 or online at www.northants.police.uk/ro. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you have been a victim of rape or sexual abuse but are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/serenity or call Serenity on 01604 601713.

Serenity provides free, confidential 24/7 support.

You can also visit www.voicenorthants.org or call Voice on 0300 303 1965.

Voice is a support service for anyone living in Northamptonshire, regardless of when, where or how crime happened to you. Services are free, confidential and you don’t have to have reported anything to the police.

Find further advice and links to support here:

• Advice and information on domestic abuse
• Advice and information on rape and other sexual offences