Christopher Haynes, a private school teacher, has been jailed for 21 months for coercive and controlling behaviour against his wife Karen, but his family now face fresh terror as he is expected to be released early in November, just seven months into his sentence. Karen, 54, a special school teacher from Gower, endured over two decades of abuse, including death threats and daily taunts, before Haynes was arrested on Christmas Day 2021.
Decades of abuse and control
Karen met Haynes in 1995 at a gym in Swansea, when she was 23 and he was 28. Their relationship was intense from the start, with Haynes showering her with gifts and mirroring her interests to convince her they were soulmates. He proposed just six weeks into the relationship, and they married in 1997.
Behind closed doors, Haynes was a controlling and violent man. He would hold Karen against walls, threaten to kill her, and boasted of being "the best sociopath there ever was." He controlled what she wore, banned makeup, and prevented her from leaving the house alone. He would stand in her way, holding up his phone with 999 entered, threatening to falsely accuse her of beating him if she tried to go out.
A family living in fear
The abuse took a severe toll on Karen and their children, Ella, 26, and Tom, 17. Karen attempted suicide in 2017, believing her death would expose Haynes and keep her children safe. She said: "I stupidly thought that in my death everyone would know how bad he was and that my kids would be safe."
In the months before his arrest, Haynes' behaviour worsened. He became obsessed with serial killers and would imitate the laugh of a character from the horror film Wolf Creek. On Christmas Eve 2021, he subjected Karen to a torrent of verbal abuse, threatening to blow her brains out. The next morning, he called NHS 111 and falsely claimed Karen had beaten him, leading to his arrest by armed police.
Justice and the threat of early release
Haynes pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour towards Karen, though a similar charge regarding Ella was dropped. Judge Geraint Walters handed him a 21-month sentence and an indefinite restraining order, noting Haynes had "effectively stolen her identity."
Karen, now a trustee of Swansea Women's Aid, said the early release is "horrendous" news. She said: "We haven't even had a Christmas since my abuser was jailed. Everyone is fearful." The family plans to emigrate to escape the memories and fear. "He won't have the last laugh," she said.
