Man Sentenced for Domestic Abuse Despite Family Tragedy
A man who found his mother and teenage sister dead inside his burger van has been jailed for subjecting his girlfriend to months of threats, violence, and controlling behaviour. Tyla Wanstall, 29, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court after a judge ruled that the trauma from their deaths was 'no excuse' for his actions.
Sustained Campaign of Abuse
The court heard how Wanstall carried out a protracted and serious course of domestic abuse against his former partner. Over a period since September 2024, he subjected her to 'regular and methodical' attempts to control her life, alongside death threats and acts of violence that included a degree of degradation and humiliation.
Specific incidents detailed in court included spitting in her face, calling her derogatory names, punching her in the arm, face, and stomach, and striking her with a stool. He repeatedly accused her of cheating and bombarded her with calls from an unknown number after she blocked him.
Bridge Incident and Threats
On one particularly alarming occasion, Wanstall dragged the woman by her hair to the edge of a bridge, leaving her fearing she would be thrown over the railings. He then told her she 'wasn't worth going to jail for' and pushed her away. In another instance, he threatened to 'snap her jaw' and kill their pet.
The abuse continued with further violent outbursts. In December 2024, after seeing her talk to another man, Wanstall swung an axe around to threaten her, then grabbed a stool, smashed it on the ground, and hit her in the ankle. On another occasion while driving, he grabbed her by the hair, smacked her head against the car console and window, and punched her in the face, causing a black eye.
Background of Trauma
Wanstall had struggled with PTSD after discovering the lifeless bodies of his mother, Leah Churchill, 50, and his 17-year-old sister, Brooke Wanstall, in his Whitstable food truck in February 2023. The pair had died of carbon monoxide poisoning while decorating the van for his birthday celebration.
Defence lawyer James Harrison argued that 'significant mitigation and explanation' could be found in the context of the relationship starting soon after these deaths. He described the impact of that loss, coupled with Wanstall's sense of responsibility, as carrying through into what was an 'ill-defined, highly emotive, intense and toxic' relationship.
Judge's Ruling
While accepting that Wanstall had 'suffered considerably', Judge Simon James said it was 'difficult to equate' his mental health problems with the 'protracted and serious abuse' he inflicted. The judge noted that Wanstall's ADHD might make him prone to 'reckless and impulsive' behaviour, but he remained 'unconvinced' that all conduct was directly linked to his PTSD, anxiety, depression, or ADHD symptoms.
Judge James emphasized that this was not an isolated incident of loss of control but a regular and methodical attempt to control another through threats and violence. He stated that even if the law permitted suspending the sentence, the offending was too serious to justify anything other than immediate imprisonment.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Wanstall, from Kent, was jailed for three years after admitting multiple charges including assault by beating, controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and making a threat to kill. He will serve half his term, less time spent on remand, before release on licence.
The court heard that the victim had 'completely withdrawn from police contact' and did not provide a statement about the impact of Wanstall's conduct. An inquest into the deaths of Leah Churchill and Brooke Wanstall found they suffered fatal carbon monoxide levels after turning on a petrol generator for heat or lighting while decorating the snack wagon.
