The ‘cold, collected’ abuser who tormented girlfriend who took her own life

After meeting on Tinder, Kathryn White’s abusive behaviour led to the death of her girlfriend, Claire Alex

A possessive and controlling woman subjected her girlfriend to a relentless campaign of abuse, driving the “vulnerable” mum to suicide just days after she finally found the strength to report her tormentor, a court has been told.

Victim Claire Alex told police she had “completely lost herself” and felt “broken” after 11 months of torment from her partner, Kathryn White. Four days later, she killed herself.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Gary Woodhall said White’s prolonged abuse of Ms Alex had significantly contributed to the mum’s decision to end her own life in July 2022.

The “cold, collected” abuser showed “absolutely no remorse, shame or empathy” for her actions, as the court heard how she terrorised Ms Alex physically and emotionally, cutting her off from her family and friends.

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White, 41, of Mayfield Mews in Crewe, Cheshire, denied controlling and coercive behaviour, but was found guilty following a trial. She appeared back in court on Friday July 31, for sentence, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Prosecutor Ember Jade Wong said White and Ms Alex had met on dating app Tinder in August 2021, and that “the relationship to begin with was a positive one.”

She said: “Claire Alex was in love. That remained a constant throughout the relationship and was one of the reasons Ms Alex remained in what emerged to be an abusive and controlling relationship, where she was reluctant to report to the police and was scared to leave. Even as that relationship became more volatile and abusive, and she became more isolated from those around her.

“She would control what she did, who she spoke to, and would monitor her in various different ways. Perhaps the most significant form of isolation in this case was from friends and family, including her own children.”

The troubled relationship finally came to an end in July 2022, when an argument resulted in White grabbing Ms Alex by the neck and pinning her to a wall. She threatened to kill herself, took the victim’s phone so she could not call for help, and threw her to the floor.

Judge Woodhall said: “I have no doubt that your behaviour on that day demonstrates the way you manipulated your partner to ensure your control, and more importantly, your complete inability to cope with any challenge by her to your authority in the home.

“Your controlling behaviour appears to have been motivated by sexual jealousy, a sense of ownership and desire to isolate the victim for you to gain control.”

The incident “spilled out onto the street” and neighbours called the police, which led to Ms Alex making a statement.

The judge continued: “She described how she had completely lost herself, and that she was broken. I have no doubt that she took her own life, at least in part, because she felt her own life had been completely ruined by you, because you left her feeling like she had no choice.”

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Rosemary Proctor, defending White, said the former army officer had depression, anxiety and ADHD, and had suffered sexual trauma in the past.

Asking the judge to pass a suspended sentence, she said: “I ask your honour to take into account sexual trauma and the impact of imprisonment on her. While there are mental health services in prison and while treatment is available, people with mental health issues can find the overwhelming nature of a prison environment more oppressive than those without mental health disorders.

“During this trial the court saw the worst version of Kathryn White. That’s not the only version. It’s clear from the character references she can be compassionate, she can be generous, she can be a good friend, a good sister, a good daughter, even a good girlfriend. There are many who can say she had made a positive impact on their lives.”

Judge Woodhall said Ms Alex had been “besotted” by White, and was “very much in love”. In return, White “controlled her and was abusive towards her.”

He said: “You belittled her, controlled her access to social media, checked her calls and messages and interactions with others. This included putting distance between her and her family and ultimately isolating her from her family until she felt completely dependent on you and unable to tell her family what was happening.

“You were abusive and threatening to anyone you perceived showed a sexual interest in her. You sought to control who she had contact with, including at work.”

The isolation worsened when Ms Alex moved from Rhyl in Wales to live with White in Crewe, and she was scared to visit her daughter on her wedding day.

The judge said: “Your behaviour amounted to a prolonged and persistent campaign of psychological and physical abuse.”

When Ms Alex had tried to take her own life on a previous occasion, White showed “no real concern for her health” as she dropped her off at the hospital, telling her to “get the f*** out of the car”. She later told Ms Alex she had “not done a good enough job in trying to take her own life”.

On one occasion she threatened to stab Ms Alex. On another occasion, she slapped her outside her workplace after a colleague hugged her.

The judge concluded: “I have watched your behaviour throughout the trial. I’m satisfied, even allowing for your mental health difficulties, you demonstrated a cold, collected attitude with absolutely no remorse, shame or empathy.

“Your behaviour demonstrated attempts by you to control the way evidence was given. You made flippant and jokey remarks which could not have been more inappropriate, which shows a complete lack of understanding of the impact of your offending.”

He sentenced White to three years and six months in prison.