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Charissa Brown-Wellington, 36, sustained a number of injuries – including bruising to her face, head, stomach, arms and legs – after Bobby Hardman, 33, abused her. A court heard Ms Brown-Wellington was found unresponsive earlier this year at the home she shared with her partner. 

She died the same day and a court was told a pathologist report showed she died as a result of a drug overdose.

Hardman was yesterday jailed for four years after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.

But he was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, Manchester Evening News reports.

Speaking during the hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Ms Brown-Wellington’s grief-stricken mother Susan Brown said: “He is heartless and a coward. He is supposed to love her, how could he hurt her so badly? He is evil.

“We will never forgive him. Thinking about what happened made me feel sick.”

The court heard Hardman refused to let his partner leave the house in Bury, Greater Manchester, in the 24 hours before she was found unresponsive.

He is heartless and a coward. He is supposed to love her, how could he hurt her so badly? He is evil.

Charissa Brown-Wellington’s mother

Vanessa Thompson, prosecuting, said Ms Brown-Wellington met Hardman on Facebook and a relationship quickly developed. He soon moved in with her but family members noted a change in Ms Brown-Wellington’s behaviour afterwards.

Ms Thompson said: “She saw less of her family and her daughter reported there being arguments between her mum and the defendant, with the defendant treating her mother’s flat as his own.”

The victim later confided in her mum. She said Hardman was aggressive towards her and had racist views.

“On January 31, she told her mum that he had battered her. She said they had moved but she didn’t know where and said he had ‘popped her nose then popped it back in,'” Ms Thompson continued.

“She said he had been dragging her round the streets by her hair, that the defendant had snapped up her phone and she was scared. She said she didn’t want her family to know where she was because she was concerned about their safety.”

There were repeated calls from her family to Ms Brown and Hardman, during which they could hear him being abusive to her in the background. During one call, he admitted smashing her phone. In another, he confessed to breaking her nose.

He also confessed that he “beat her every time someone called her on the phone”.

The lawyer added: “Her family were distraught, they didn’t know where she was or how to get to her.

“Susan Brown, her mum, was concerned about her welfare and advised her to come home.”

Hardman’s uncle called him and told him to let her go, the court heard. Hardman said he “wasn’t keeping her against her will”, but she could be heard in the background saying “he is”, the judge was told.

On February 2, Ms Brown-Wellington’s mum received a call from Hardman saying she wasn’t breathing. She was taken to hospital, where she tragically died. The court heard her mum was horrified to see her daughter’s face “bruised and battered” when she went to identify her body.

When Hardman was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, he told police in a prepared statement Ms Brown-Wellington had been abusive towards him; that she “would often fall over and bruise easily” and that she had taken diazepam, “meth” and prescription drugs.

A pathologist later concluded that her injuries did not cause or contribute to her death.

Hardman, from Bury, was said to have numerous previous convictions including for offences of violence against former partners.

Michael Lea, defending, said his client accepted he was violent towards Ms Brown-Wellington.

“The situation of the defendant… he has suffered a loss as well,” he said.

“He was in a relationship with Charissa Brown and she is no longer present. He is and was upset about the situation.”

Mr Lea added that Hardman is trying to address his drug issues in prison.

Sentencing, Judge Angela Nield said: “It has been identified that a drug overdose led to her demise. It is of little consolation to her family, those many individuals who loved her dearly, who recognised her flaws and embraced them.

“She was subjected to violence and fear for the last three days of her life – and in particular the last 24 hours.”

She added that Hardman had an “apparent perverse delight” when he told her family he had broken her nose, then “put it back in place”.

Hardman, of Rutland Drive, was jailed for four years with an extended licence period of two years. He must serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being considered for release by the parole board.

Kirsty Walls, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Bobby Jo Hardman was a controlling and violent partner to Charissa Brown-Wellington. Charissa suffered both physical and emotional harm at his hands, he cut her off from friends and family and showed no remorse following her death.

“The CPS worked with the Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case including witness testimony and medical evidence to put before the court. The strength of evidence was such that Hardman, having previously denied all charges, admitted that he had assaulted and imprisoned Charissa Brown-Wellington.

“I hope Charissa’s family can take some comfort from knowing that Hardman has been brought to justice. My thoughts are with them at this time.”

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