A man who kicked in a woman’s windscreen while she was driving after a campaign of abuse has been jailed for a year and will be deported at the end of his term.

36-year-old Hugo Figueira Faria had pleaded guilty to one count of domestic abuse, in addition to one count of malicious damage, and possession of cannabis and MDMA.

Woman left “terrified”

Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, described how Faria isolated the woman and on one occasion demanded money from her, forcing her to drive to a cashpoint so that she could withdraw £250.

“Whilst in the car, the defendant told the complainant that she did not respect him because, if she did, she would always tell him where she was,” the advocate said.

“The defendant was angry and lifted his fist and went to slam it on the dashboard, but did not make contact. The complainant was terrified and felt threatened.”

“Countless” abusive messages

He sent her “countless” messages in the course of one argument and made 144 calls to her, telling her she was “the lows skunk I ever met”.

He also threatened that, if she didn’t help him, he would go to La Moye.

He was arrested and officers found 2 grams of cannabis on him.

The court heard that he “continued to be manipulative and controlling” and also threatened suicide.

When they were in a car together, Faria “demanded that [his victim] take him to La Moye Prison but she did not understand why”, and reacted “angrily” when she refused.

The court heard how he tried to take control of the gear stick and put his feet against the windscreen, “threatening to smash it as she was driving”, eventually cracking it with his feet.

“Threatening, belittling and controlling”

The woman felt “emotionally and mentally destroyed”, the court heard.

When he was arrested a second time, Faria was found with two MDMA tablets on him.

Crown Advocate Sette added that Faria blamed his “threatening, belittling and controlling behaviour, which has had a profound effect on her mental health” on the victim.

“There is a risk of serious harm as well as a high risk of reconviction in the next 12 months,” he said.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said that his client would not contest a deportation order as he wanted to return to Madeira anyway.

“He wants to get back home for [his mother] and start righting wrongs,” Advocate Baglin said.

He added that Faria had pleaded guilty early on, and emphasised that he had not assaulted the woman.

“You did not accept responsibility”

Commissioner Sir Michael Birt, presiding, told Faria: “Your behaviour has had a serious effect on her mental wellbeing.”

He reminded Faria of the victim’s words in her personal statement, where she said: “I feel he wanted to destroy me. It’s like he had some sort of plan to own me to himself.”

Faria had several previous convictions, the Commissioner said, adding: “You did not accept responsibility for the behaviour and you place blame on the victim.”

He sentenced Faria to 12 months’ imprisonment for the domestic abuse and three concurrent months for the malicious damage, ordered a domestic abuse protection order, notification requirements, and recommended him for deportation.

Sir Michael was sitting with Jurats Le Cornu and Entwistle.