A 54-year-old man from East London has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for installing a surveillance camera outside his former partner’s home and subjecting her to prolonged psychological abuse. Keith Bird, of Tower Hamlets, was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court for assault and controlling behavior that endured for ten months.

The victim testified that Bird had set up the camera in Romford to monitor her movements, a measure he took to “keep an eye” on her following the deterioration of their relationship. During the period of abuse, Bird reportedly belittled the woman, undermining her self-esteem by telling her that her family, including her parents and children, did not love her. He also coerced her into changing her phone number and deleting her social media accounts.

After their relationship ended, the abuse escalated when Bird confronted the woman regarding the return of a car, during which he pushed her. The victim described the impact of these events in court, stating, “I am broken.”

Bird pleaded guilty to assault and controlling behavior charges. The court imposed a prison sentence of two years and 11 months, along with a seven-year restraining order to protect the victim. The case highlights issues of coercive control and psychological abuse within intimate relationships, emphasizing the legal consequences of such conduct.