A jealous boyfriend has been jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour after accusing his fiancee of getting into “sexual positions” with her martial arts instructors.

Robert Shaw-Williams, 41, formerly of Brecon, banned Sarita Birdsall from going to jiu-jitsu classes when they lived together in Builth Wells because he thought men were simulating sex with her.

A court heard he would storm into the lesson to grab “embarrassed” Miss Birdsall, from the mat and take her home.

Shaw-Williams also banned her from church claiming “men of God” were trying to seduce his bride-to-be.

Prosecutor Meirion Davies said: “Ms Birdsall enjoyed jiu-jitsu but he did not like her getting into what he thought were sexual positions with men.

“She found a woman’s club but he would turn up and watch every single session because there were male instructors.

“He was a malign presence, silently watching.

“If she did spar with a man he would intervene and remove her from the mat. It was embarrassing and humiliating for her.”

The couple met in January 2017 and Ms Birdsall gave up a £30,000-a-year job in Bristol to move to Builth Wells, with Shaw-Williams.

But the court heard he quickly became controlling, banning Miss Birdsal from Facebook, stopped her from wearing bikinis on holiday and synchronised their mobile phones to check on her calls.

She wasn’t allowed to go out shopping or to walk her dogs during their 10-month relationship in 2017.

Builder and engineer Shaw-Williams even refused to insure their car for her to drive saying it was a “waste of money”.

Mr Davies added: “All this was intended to isolate her, he was taking complete control of all aspects of her life.

“The prosecution case is that for the 10 months they were together she was not allowed to do anything or go anywhere on her own. She was trapped.”

The court heard the final straw came in October 2017 – two months before their planned wedding – when he punched Miss Birdsall while driving to visit relatives in Bristol.

She managed to send a desperate text to a friend pleading with her to call the police but Shaw-Williams went on the run before he could be arrested.

Miss Birdsall applied for a restraining order and discovered three of his ex-girlfriends had been granted similar orders in the past.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Shaw-Williams blew £70,000 of his fiancee’s money and “maxed out” her credit cards.

In a victim personal statement Miss Birdsall said she was left in financial ruin, living in a women’s refuge and suffering “night terrors”.

She said: “My life has been turned upside down, I have been forced to sell my house and I am homeless.

“All my money went on supporting him, he got through £70,000 in three months. I’m still in massive debt, he maxed out my credit card and I have no chance of getting a mortgage now.

“I’ve had to rehome my dogs, I’m unable to work, I have panic attacks and night terrors. I’ve lost everything.”

The father-of-two, who was living in Brecon when they met, was jailed for three years and seven months after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship.

Judge Richard Williams described Shaw-Williams as a “parasite” who was guilty of emotional cruelty.

He told him: “There was a pattern of controlling and disruptive behaviour against women unfortunate enough to find themselves in an intimate relationship with you.

“There were multiple methods of control and coercion against Miss Birdsall who has suffered psychological harm.”

Shaw-Williams, was given a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Miss Birdsall when he is freed.