A bully who beat up and humiliated his girlfriend during a series of childish temper tantrums has avoided jail after he blamed his thuggery on being 'immature.'
Joseph Gallacher, 20, of Harpurhey, Manchester, would abuse student nurse Natasha O'Callaghan, 19, in the mistaken belief she was dating other men.
During a six month relationship in 2017, Gallacher, then 18, would threaten other men at her college due to jealousy and use her phone to send affectionate messages to male friends calling them 'babe' in attempts to elicit a response from them.
Joseph Gallacher (left), 20, abused his student nurse girlfriend Natasha O'Callaghan (right), 19
He also restricted Miss O'Callaghan from seeing her friends and family, called her a 'slag' and disapproved of her wearing make up and getting dressed up to go out.
In one incident Gallacher became drunk before throwing a large candle and a TV remote at her when she refused his sexual advances.
Gallacher was arrested after he lured Miss O'Callaghan to a field and assaulted her after she told him she had miscarried their baby.
During the incident he forced her to go onto her mobile banking app and transfer £500 to his bank account.
He also stole one of her mother's rings and sold it for £60 at a Cash Generator store.
Miss O'Callaghan was attacked in a field after she told Gallacher she had miscarried their baby
At Manchester Crown Court, Gallacher faced up to five years jail after he pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, theft and fraud.
But he escaped with 21 months imprisonment suspended for two years after he claimed his conduct was due to being 'young, immature and a little weirdo'.
Sentencing Judge Patrick Field QC told Gallacher: 'You treated her with disdain and a complete lack of respect. You were repeatedly petulant and violent towards her and her property. She was belittled and she was not deserving of any of this.
'Your behaviour is nothing short of shameful and you should feel that. It's said you were a young man and immature. That much is evident.
'You had an unfortunate childhood but that does not provide an excuse but more of an explanation for your lack of maturity. This was persistent behaviour over a prolonged period.
Miss O'Callaghan (above) was restricted from seeing her friends and family by her boyfriend
'You used multiple method of being controlling and coercive and on occasions you showed conduct intending to humiliate Miss O'Callaghan.
'She was in fear of violence on many occasions. Many will expect you to deserve a prison sentence but there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. I don't want to see you again, but if I do, you know what will happen'.
The court heard the pair had got together in March 2017 when he was 18 and she was 19 and initially the pair were happy.
But prosecutor Charlotte Rimmer said: 'Something changed and he began threatening men at her college due to jealousy, he would have use of her phone and send language such as 'babe' to other men and wait to see what response was.
'He restricting her from seeing her family
