Halifax woman attacked by vegan boyfriend because she 'smelled of bacon'

Christopher Ellam, 22, lashed out at his girlfriend of four years, Bethany Smith, 23, when she came home from her job at a cafe 'smelling of meat'.

The strict vegan had banned his partner from eating animal products and, paranoid after she came back with the scent lingering on her clothing, he battered her with a vinegar bottle and called her a 'fat disgusting bitch'.

Ellam was so controlling, Bethany claims he regulated what she could watch on TV and would kick off if he didn't like the way she looked at men on the programmes.

He even destroyed her clothing - damaging a black and red lace dress Beth had bought for her birthday, two pairs of shoes and a cardigan - by cutting it up.

Bethany eventually plucked up the courage to report the abuse to police and Ellam was arrested. At Kirklees Magistrates Court, Ellam pleading guilty to assault by beating, two counts of criminal damage and sending indecent or grossly offensive messages for the purpose of causing anxiety or distress.

He was sentenced to a community order including a 10-day rehabilitation course and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Despite suffering from nightmares and anxiety, Bethany is relieved he is now out of her life. Bethany, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, who is currently not working, said: "I thought Christopher loved me, but he tried to control almost every aspect of my life.

"I never wanted to be a vegan or even vegetarian, but he made me feel like I had to be.

"After he attacked me for smelling of bacon - when I'd been helping in my stepdad's cafe - I knew enough was enough.

"I'm just relieved he's out of my life." Bethany and Christopher started off as friends. Bethany said: "At first, Christopher and I were just mates. "When I fell out with my group of pals, he was a shoulder to cry on and he was there when I felt like I had no one else.

"It wasn't long before our friendship turned into something more.

"Christopher was attentive, funny and charming. "As my family weren't all too keen on Christopher, he didn't feel very welcome at my house - and refused to come around for tea. "He wasn't a fan of them either and would slate them at any opportunity." Six months into the relationship, Bethany noticed a change in her boyfriend's behaviour, she said.

She said: "He became paranoid and controlling.

"When I wasn't around him he demanded to know where I was and who I was with. "He didn't want me to leave his side and threatened to kill himself so I felt I had no choice but to stay with him all of the time."

In 2015, Christopher decided to become a vegan - cutting out any meat and animal products from his diet, she claims.

Bethany said: "He became completely set on the idea.

"He told me bluntly: 'If you're not going vegan, I'll break up with you.' "I felt like I had to go along with his strict diet - even though I wasn't keen to. "He banned me from consuming meat, cheese or eggs. "When we visited our friend one afternoon, she asked if I'd like a snack and handed me some cheese and onion crisps. "I felt Christopher's eyes burning into me, but I didn't realise why until later.

"He asked me why I'd eaten them - and told me they were cheese flavoured and I shouldn't have had them as I was supposed to be vegan. "I hadn't even clicked.

"The crisps weren't worth the abuse I endured so I vowed not to touch them again."

But Bethany claims things only then went from bad to worse.

She said: "At home, if I tried to watch TV, Christopher would dictate what I was and wasn't allowed to watch.

"He got jealous and angry of me 'looking at men' on TV - like a topless Channing Tatum on an advert for Magic Mike live.

"It was ridiculous. "The idea of me fancying someone else - even a celebrity - would put Christopher in a stonking mood. "I couldn't do anything without fear of putting a foot wrong."

Bethany was relieved to leave the flat they shared in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, to head to work in her stepdad Jamie's café in Halifax, West Yorkshire. She said: "During the week I helped out by waitressing, doing the washing up, working the till and serving customers. "I enjoyed the job, interacting with people and it gave me some time away from Christopher. "But when I got home from a shift one evening, Christopher was raging. "He snapped and told me I 'smelt of meat'. "I assured him it was because I'd been in the cafe around food all day, but he launched into a nasty tirade. "He pulled me by my hair into the bathroom and forced me to have a shower.

"He called me a 'fat, disgusting b*tch'.

"Christopher wanted me to stop working, but I couldn't as it was our only source of income.

"He didn't have a job - he was so reclusive he barely left the flat.

"The next morning, I got up to head to the café, but Christopher was still annoyed. "He asked me to stay at the flat with him as he didn't want me 'to come back stinking of meat'. "I told him I couldn't as I had to earn some money to pay our rent and bills.

"In a rage, he grabbed a black and red lace dress I'd bought for my birthday and started destroying it.

"I pleaded with him not to, but it was no good.

"Christopher also grabbed two pairs of my shoes and a cardigan and started cutting them up. "He was doing his very best to try and isolate me from everyone and when he wasn't getting his own way, Christopher flipped.

"He grabbed the glass bottle of vinegar off the side and whacked me around the side of the head with it.

"He punched and kicked me in a vicious attack.

"I dropped to the floor and curled up in a ball with a cushion covering my face to try and shield it, but it didn't stop Christopher pummelling down blows."

Eventually, Christopher stopped and Bethany managed to get up and run out of the flat and escape him.

She said: "The brutal beating was the final straw.

"After four years of abuse, I went back to my mum's house. "My face was swollen and bruised and when she asked me what had happened it all came pouring out. "I had to undergo hospital tests due to the injuries Christopher inflicted.

"I had bumps to the back of my head, but was advised that they were hematomas and would go down eventually.

"Scared and upset, I didn't know what to do but mum gently encouraged me to report it to the police so he couldn't hurt anyone else.

"Christopher was arrested and charged."

In November 2019, Christopher Ellam appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court. Magistrates sentenced Christopher to a community order including the 33 day Building Better Relationships programme.

He must complete up to 10 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Christopher was ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation as well as £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge. The other was made as a direct alternative to custody.

Magistrates made a two year restraining order banning him from contacting Bethany or going to her home.

Mohammed Arif, mitigating, said his client had suffered mental health issues after being bullied at school and the couple "shouldn't have got together in the first place".

He said he apologised.

Bethany said: "I was relieved when he was sentenced and I was pleased that if he got a new partner in the future, they could look up what he has done.

"I want to urge others in a volatile relationship to try and find a way out so they don't end up going through what I did. "The ordeal has left her suffering from anxiety and depression and unable to sleep due to nightmares.

"He ruined my life.

"I'm trying to move on, but my trust in people has gone and I've no confidence left."