A mediation charity is issuing advice to recognise emotional abuse following the sentencing of a man in court who threw a wine bottle at his victim and refused to let her leave the house.

Gary Saunders, aged 50, of Paceycombe Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Saunders was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Dorset Police said they received a report of an assault at the defendant's address at on the evening of November 11.

Saunders had thrown a bottle of wine, which hit his victim on the head.

Officers attended and Saunders refused to open the door. He also refused to allow his victim, a woman aged in her 50s, to leave the address.

As the victim tried to leave, Saunders grabbed her hands and pushed her back from the door.

She suffered injuries including bruising and lumps to both eye sockets, lumps to her head and bruising to her right forearm.

Officers managed to gain entry and Saunders was arrested.

After the case, Dorchester neighbourhood inspector Neil Wood, said: "This case goes to show our commitment to protecting those at risk from domestic abuse and to bringing those who commit such offences to justice.

“Controlling and coercive behaviour causes significant harm to victims and their families. Perpetrators need to know that reports of this sort of abuse will be pursued and investigated."

Sheila Maycock, centre manager for relationship and mediation charity, Relate Dorset and South Wiltshire said: "Coercive and controlling behaviour within an intimate relationship is a form of emotional abuse. It may take the form of intimidation and threats, criticism, undermining, being made to feel guilty, telling you what you can or can’t do or withdrawing or withholding money. Abusers may switch on superficial charm every time they need others support and to get their own way.

"There is never any excuse for coercive or controlling behaviour. The manipulation of anyone in an intimate relationship is unacceptable."

She added people often ‘got used to’ the relationship, and did not feel they were able to make changes on their own.

Relates say its counsellors are specially trained to work with couples where abuse has been a factor and offer individual appointments to work out the best way forward – only doing joint work when it is safe to do so.

For help and support for abusive relationships visit dorset.police.uk/da or contact Relate on 01302 380900