Abusive boyfriend dragged off aircraft by police

A man who subjected his girlfriend to a year of control and abuse was dragged off an aircraft at Manchester Airport by police after throwing prosecco in her face.

Callum Coady, 27, was also seen shouting at his partner Daisy Martin and threatening to kill her after a Facebook message on her phone sent him into a rage.

After Coady was detained Martin revealed the truth about their relationship, telling officers he dictated what she wore and who she spoke to, isolated her from friends and family and kept a constant track on her location.

Coady pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and was jailed for 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months, at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

Speaking after the case, Martin said Coady, from Larwood Avenue in Heaton Mersey, Stockport, had made her "forget what love should feel like".

"I struggle to believe anyone could genuinely want something healthy with me," she said.

"I feel anxious going places in case I see him, and I still look over my shoulder. My sense of safety is gone."

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the abuse came to an end on 19 August 2023 after airport staff intervened and called the police.

Bodyworn camera footage released by the force showed Coady complaining about missing his flight as he was taken off the plane in handcuffs.

Martin opened up to officers and showed them messages from Coady on her phone.

They included demands to turn her location on and demands to know who she was speaking to.

One read: "Was that a [Snapchat] notification I heard from you?"

Martin replied: "No it wasn't me I deleted it."

She told officers she felt "trapped" and like there was "no way out", but did not realise she had been subjected to a criminal offence until it was explained to her.

GMP said specialist domestic abuse officers trawled through 35,000 messages between the couple as part of its investigation.

Det Con Elizabeth Andrews said Martin had shown "exceptional bravery" throughout the case.

"The thousands of messages recovered from Coady's phone provided a clear and disturbing insight into the level of control, manipulation and abuse she was subjected to, and they formed a crucial part of the evidence against him."

Martin added: "I used to be open and secure, but that part of me feels damaged. This experience has deeply affected my trust and identity."

Coady was ordered to complete a relationships course with the Probation Service as part of his suspended sentence order, and was banned from contacting her by a five-year restraining order.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to Martin.

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