Coronation Street: Controlling and coercive behaviour signs

Coronation Street’s ongoing plot involving Todd Grimshaw and his boyfriend Theo Silverton has brought public attention to the realities of coercive control and manipulation.

A form of domestic abuse that can be subtle and difficult to recognise.

Rayner Grice, partner and national head of the family law team at Clarke Willmott, based in Manchester, said: “Matters come to a head next week and this highly significant storyline highlights an area of domestic abuse that is so very real for large numbers of people.

“Controlling and coercive behaviour is subtle and slowly escalates over a prolonged period of time.

“In the majority of cases, the sufferer is genuinely unaware of what is happening as it becomes a normal part of the relationship and they begin to question their own thinking and actions as the offender manipulates their confidence and convinces them through a subtle series of longer-term acts that they are the ones to blame.”

Viewers have also seen Theo emotionally blackmailing Todd and manipulating Todd’s confidence.

In a recent episode, Theo smashed Todd’s face into a mirror, causing him to seek hospital treatment, but then viewers saw Theo manipulate his actions to try to convince Todd that he had fallen and created the injury himself.

Christmas is a particularly difficult time, as the festive period can highlight and intensify already tense relationships.

Rayner Grice, partner and national head of the family law team at Clarke Willmott (Image: Supplied)

Such behaviour may include:

• Isolating the person from their friends and family
• Depriving them of their basic needs
• Monitoring their time
• Monitoring the person via online communication tools or using spyware
• Taking control of aspects of their everyday life, such as where they can go, who they can see, what to wear and when they can sleep
• Depriving them of access to support services such as specialist support or medical services
• Repeatedly putting them down, such as telling them they are worthless
• Adopting a victim mentality so that the sufferer feels they are to blame
• Enforcing rules and activities which humiliate, degrade or dehumanise the sufferer
• Financial abuse, including control of finances
• Threats to a child
• Criminal damage
• Assault
• Rape

Ms Grice said: “The perpetrator of such behaviour may limit the sufferer’s ability to either recognise the behaviour or seek help by attempting to restrict their contact with friends or family as well as reducing their independence.”

While statistics indicate that 92 per cent of victims are female, Clarke Willmott emphasised that men are also affected.

Ms Grice said that the nature of coercive control means victims often doubt themselves and are reluctant to seek help, believing they will not be believed.

She explained that legal protections are available, including non-molestation and occupation orders, but early intervention is crucial, especially when children are involved.

Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.

Ms Grice is recognised for her expertise in working with domestic abuse cases with an emphasis on Controlling & Coercive behaviour.