A 47-year-old woman from Crawley, West Sussex, has spoken out about the two years of abuse she suffered at the hands of her former partner, Lee Yates, who was jailed in April 2026 for coercive and controlling behaviour. Daisy, not her real name, met Yates on a dating app in 2020, and he quickly subjected her to a campaign of control that included monitoring her clothing, timing her bathroom visits, and restricting her sleep.
Control and Intimidation
Daisy described how Yates initially appeared kind and attentive, but within six months his behaviour changed. He confiscated her contraceptive pill, dictated what she wore, and timed her daily tasks, even barging into the bathroom if she took longer than three minutes. He also controlled her sleeping patterns, not allowing her to go to bed when she wanted or stay there longer than him.
‘He controlled everything in my life, from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed,’ Daisy said. ‘You are scared of them and the easiest thing to do is just to abide by their rules.’ She recalled that Yates would force her to make him meals, chauffeur him around, and give him all her money to spend on alcohol. If she refused, he reportedly retaliated with physical abuse or threats to kill her pet horses.
Physical Abuse and Threats
Daisy detailed further abuse, including Yates spitting on her, urinating on her, and throwing things at her. ‘The first time he urinated on me he said “I own you now”,’ she said. ‘He put the cold shower on my face and basically burnt my chest. Then he spat at me and started throwing things at me. It was hell. I physically could not do anymore. You couldn’t say no to him, it wasn’t a word he knew.’ She also alleged he attacked her in the car, and she caught one attack on camera.
Yates was arrested in June 2022 after a neighbour reported Daisy being shoved in a car park. This led to her finally confessing to the abuse. ‘I was going to end up dead, I am sure I was,’ she said. ‘The police knocked on the door saying that someone had called. Something in my head went “this is your way out”.’
Arrest and Sentencing
Following his arrest, Yates was charged and later found guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour. He was sentenced to three years in prison at Lewes Crown Court in April 2026. Daisy said she still feels the effects of the abuse. ‘The moment he was arrested I was panicked. I thought he was going to be cross and come back and attack me. I couldn’t go out on my own. I was always looking over my shoulder. It is a horrible feeling. I will never be the same again, but I am not letting him win. There is life after trauma. I will never let a man treat me like that again.’
Hannah Lane, an investigator at Sussex Police, said: ‘Lee Yates sought to control almost every aspect of this victim’s life, using violence and intimidation to try and subdue her. But he underestimated her strength. Thanks to her reporting his crimes to the police, he is now safely behind bars while she can look to rebuild her life. Our message to any victims of coercive or controlling behaviour is that you are not alone and help is out there. Report it to the police, a friend, or any other source of support, and we will do all we can to protect you.’
Daisy’s case highlights the severe impact of coercive control, which often goes unnoticed by outsiders. Her decision to speak out aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse and encourage other victims to seek help. For anyone experiencing domestic abuse, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) is open 24 hours a day, and in an emergency, call 999.
