A JUDGE spoke of ‘outdated’ Hong Kong approaches after a Chapelford teen’s shocking controlling behaviour of his girlfriend.

Hin-Yat Lee dragged his girlfriend into his car, rubbed makeup off her face because he didn’t like her wearing it, and even ‘intended’ to drop her off in the middle of nowhere as a ‘punishment’.

The 18-year-old prevented the victim from speaking to other boys and told her she should not be working and should instead be spending time with him.

Lee, of Houston Gardens, Chapelford, but originally from Hong Kong, appeared before Chester Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour and two counts of assault by beating.

Here, he was told by the honorary recorder of Chester judge Steven Everett that his behaviour was ‘totally wrong’ and that he must change.

Prosecuting, Laura Knightly explained how the defendant and the teenage victim had been in a relationship for around seven months which started in October 2022.

Ms Knightly said that on May 17 of this year, a member of the public called the police after they saw a man grabbing a girl by the sleeve of her coat and dragging her into a vehicle.

The car was linked to Lee and officers attended his address where they found he was in the Lumber Lane area in Burtonwood after speaking to him on the phone. They then made their way there where they found Lee and the victim.

He was subsequently arrested.

Officers drove the girl home where she disclosed that Lee, who she confirmed had pulled her into the car by her wrist, was intending to drive her down a ‘random road’ with the intention of dropping her off and leaving her to find her own way home.

She said that he had tried to rub makeup off her eyes and lips as he didn’t like her wearing it which had left her with a few small cuts.

The victim also disclosed that in February of this year, while the pair were at college, Lee pushed her against a wall and kicked a traffic cone at her.

Chester Crown Court heard the contents of a victim impact statement from Lee’s then-girlfriend which revealed how in the early days of their relationship she was very happy and he even bought her a kitten.

But in January of this year, things changed, the court heard.

Summarising the statement, Ms Knightly said how Lee told the victim that he did not want her to wear makeup and that she looked better without it – even though she enjoyed wearing it.

Ms Knightly said when she did wear it, he would ask her who she was trying to show off to and would accuse her of cheating on him.

Warrington Guardian: Chester Crown Court

He also told the victim she should not be working and instead should be spending time with him, resulting in her reducing her hours at work and making her feel as though she was losing her independence.

The court was told how Lee didn’t want her speaking to any boys.

The victim felt ‘very stressed’ and like she was ‘treading on eggshells’.

Defending his client, who is of previous good character, Simon Parry said: “He is still only a young man of 18 years of age and this is his first experience of the criminal justice system and one that he really does not want to repeat.

“He is a young man who has behaved and dealt with his relationship and his own insecurities in a hopeless manner.

“There is genuine remorse and regret, he has expressed he would like to apologise for his behaviour to the complainant.

“There is motivation in this young man to address these issues and make sure that nothing else like this ever happens again.”

Before sentencing, judge Everett spoke of the difference in ‘cultural approaches’ in which Lee’s is to see males having a major say over females.

He said: “The behaviour that I have to sentence you for is somewhat bizarre and it does show a difference in cultural approaches between your background and that of persons in this country.

“You came from Hong Kong and for some reasons that I do not understand, your cultural approach, for which your culture is to take the blame, is that you see it that a male has the major say over a female in any partnership.

“That is wrong, it is as simple as that. Partnerships are equal.

“You have to change. You do not treat your partner in any relationship as some sort of chattel to be controlled and bossed around as you see fit.

“If it seems acceptable in Hong Kong, which it should not be, it is certainly not in this country.

“What is surprising as far as I am concerned is this completely outdated and totally wrong approach.

“You have to change and if your family believe it is totally right then you do not follow what they do, you do what is actually right.”

Due to his previous good character and young age, Lee was handed six months in detention, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete a Building Better Relationships programme, 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He is subjected to a six-year restraining order against his former partner.

“This is a valuable lesson to the family, if you do not mind me saying so,” judge Everett added.

“If I see you across a courtroom standing in that dock again, you will be going straight through that back door.”