THE alleged victim in the trial of a man accused of controlling and coercive behaviour has told a court she felt ‘shy, self-conscious, and pretty depressed’ as a result of her ex-boyfriend’s actions.

James Barr is currently on trial at Preston Crown Court after denying the offence, which is said to have taken place over a six-year period in South Cumbria.

Prosecutor Megan Cox alleged the 38-year-old, formerly of Askam-in-Furness, was abusive and manipulative towards his former partner’s appearance; that he demeaned her and her family, and that he controlled her phone usage, as well as which family members her and their two children could see.

Ms Cox also alleged the defendant tracked her on occasions when she left the house and that he would bombard her with calls and messages.

READ MORE: 'Extremely jealous’ man, 37, goes on trial accused of controlling ex-girlfriend

The prosecution cross-examined the complainant in court on November 19.

Giving evidence behind a screen to conceal her appearance from the defendant, the woman said: “I felt like we were in a normal relationship when we first got together.

“We then moved into a flat together in Barrow where I got pregnant with our first child. He used to call my mum a ‘chav’. He didn’t like how she parented."

The court heard the complainant said the defendant started ‘poking and pushing’ her when later moved to Millom.

She said Barr would shout at her if she did not complete household chores such as washing the dishes and cleaning the house.

“He would tell me that I needed to lose weight and that I was not dressing the way he liked,” she told the jury.

“He stopped me from taking the children to the park because he was embarrassed about how I looked. On one occasion he described me as looking like a ‘bin lady’ and said that I was wearing ‘old lady clothes’.

“He would compare me to other young women on dating applications that he wanted me to look like.

“He would comment to me how he looked like a God and how he was so amazing and handsome.

“It made me feel very sad, low and a bit mortified to be honest. It left me feeling, shy, self-conscious and pretty depressed.”

The court heard the alleged victim said Barr, now of Marine Drive, Bigbury-on-Sea, suggested her having surgery to reduce the size of her breasts and buttocks.

When being questioned by the prosecution on the defendant restricting her access to her mobile phone, the alleged victim said: “I was using my phone for less than 30 minutes when I was in the relationship.

“He would shout at me asking who I was messaging. I ended up stopping contact with my friends and family. When he shouted, it just broke me.

“I probably only left the house twice per week to go to a baby group or to go shopping. When I went to the shops, on two or three occasions he would track my location.”

She concluded her evidence by telling the jury how the defendant could never leave him and that they would have to ‘co-exist’ together in the same house.

“I lived with him for another two years after we had broken up for the sake of my children,” she added.

“He said I would never see my children again if I left him. He threatened to take them to France so I would never be able to see them again.”

Ms Cox questioned the mother of the alleged victim about her daughter’s relationship with the defendant.

The mother said: “A few months into the relationship, I noticed she was very quiet and not her normal happy-go-lucky self. She started wearing more makeup, her dress sense started to change, and she was not hanging around with her friends as much.

“He looked down on us like we were not good enough to be spoken to.”

The trial continues.