A 'dangerous' and violent man from Hatfield has been sentenced to 21 months in prison following a conviction of controlling and coercive behaviour and actual bodily harm (ABH) in Welwyn Garden City. 

Hayden Packard, 38, of Cornflower Way was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court last Tuesday (March 14).

He has been on remand since his arrest in September 2022 and during his trial last week, he entered a late guilty plea.

Read more:

The court heard that he had been in a three-month relationship with his partner after meeting on Facebook.

During this time, Packard repeatedly assaulted the victim and became jealous and controlling during the first week that they were dating.

He would make her change her clothes if he didn’t like them and would take one of her personal belongings when she visited him to make sure she returned to him.

Packard also made her go through her phone and call the men she had saved as contacts telling them to leave her alone.

He also bombarded her with texts and demanded photographic evidence that she was at work.

During their brief relationship, he shut her finger in a heavy front door causing significant damage and leaving her requiring two operations as she was trying to escape her own flat to get away from him.

On another occasion he pulled her by the hair as she was trying to escape through a ground floor window.

Investigator Jodie Williamson from the Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (DAISU) said: “Without a doubt, Packard is a dangerous serial perpetrator of violence against women. He has several cautions and two previous convictions for domestic abuse against different victims.

“After body worn footage taken from attending officers was played to the court showing the victim’s demeanour and injuries, Packard entered a guilty plea. This enabled us to prove what a dangerous and violent man Packard is. Our priority is always to safeguard victims from domestic abuse.”

                                                                                                        

Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox every week by signing up to the Welwyn Hatfield Times In Brief newsletter.

                                                                                                        

She added: “I’d like to thank my DAISU colleagues and Welwyn Hatfield officers who attended on the day for their support throughout this investigation. This has resulted in the conviction of another domestic abuse perpetrator.”

Anyone with concerns about their partner can contact the Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor services by calling 0300 790 6772.

In an emergency, always call 999. If you are afraid or unable to speak, call 999 from a mobile and press 5, 5.

Help and support is also available from the Sunflower Centre at hertssunflower.org.