Dramatic police bodycam footage has captured the moment a controlling boyfriend was arrested onboard an aircraft after he hurled a glass of prosecco in his partner's face and threatened to kill her at Manchester Airport. Callum Coady, aged 27, was handcuffed by officers as he protested his innocence, shouting, "Do I look like I'd kill someone?" and complaining, "I'm missing my flight now," as he was escorted off the plane with his hands behind his back.
A Year of Coercive Control and Abuse
The court heard that Coady, from Heaton Mersey in Stockport, subjected victim Daisy Martin to more than a year of relentless abuse, forcing her to delete social media accounts and cutting her off from loved ones. The abuse culminated on August 19, 2023, when Coady became aggressive at the airport after seeing a message on Facebook. CCTV footage captured him shouting at Ms Martin before throwing the prosecco in her face and making the lethal threat, which prompted airport staff to intervene and police to arrest him.
Sentencing and Restraining Order
At Manchester Magistrates' Court, Coady pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour. On Monday, he was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he was handed a five-year restraining order, ordered to work with probation services, and told to pay £200 in compensation to his victim.
Victim Impact Statement Reveals Profound Trauma
In a powerful victim impact statement, Daisy Martin described the profound and lasting impact of the abuse on her life. "After everything I went through, it has had a profound impact on my life," she said. "I struggle daily to understand people and often overthink even small interactions. I question whether people will treat me with respect after trusting someone who changed completely once I let him close and controlled how I behaved, thought and lived."
Ms Martin added that the experience has made her extremely wary of relationships and friendships, stating, "He made me forget what love should feel like, and I struggle to believe anyone could genuinely want something healthy with me. I feel anxious going places in case I see him, and I still look over my shoulder. My sense of safety is gone." She also noted increased anger and self-blame, saying, "I'm trying to rebuild myself. I blamed myself for not seeing the manipulation sooner."
Investigation and Evidence
The case was built after specialist domestic abuse officers analysed more than 35,000 messages exchanged between Coady and Ms Martin. These messages revealed a clear and persistent pattern of control, threats, and manipulation. Detective Constable Elizabeth Andrews, who led the investigation, praised Ms Martin's courage in coming forward. "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," she said.
The messages showed that Coady dictated Ms Martin's social media use, including not allowing her to have apps like Snapchat, and controlled her phone usage extensively. This digital evidence was pivotal in securing the conviction and highlighting the insidious nature of coercive control in modern relationships.
