A CONVICTED sex offender who monitored his disabled girlfriend’s movements using a tracking device has been jailed.

Phillip Watson was convicted of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour against his former partner after a trial last month, having subjected her to a range of sickening actions over a period of nine months.

The 26-year-old, of no fixed address but from Warrington, was handed two-and-a-half years behind bars at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, November 16.

Between June 2017 and March 2018, he monitored his ‘vulnerable’ victim’s movements using a tracking device fitted within a watch he had given to her.

Watson – who is subject to a life licence for sexual offences – decided where she could go, who she could see, what she could wear, how her hair and makeup should be done and when and where she could sleep.

He prevented his partner from seeing her family and made threats to her dad and brother, forced her to ‘pull sickies’ from work and controlled her finances.

She suffered bruising and pain after the defendant assaulted her while ‘purporting to be play fighting’, and e even attempted to control her behaviour via a third party while serving time in prison.

Watson, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Liverpool, now admits his offending – which caused a ‘physical and mental deterioration’ in his then girlfriend.

Sentencing, judge Stuart Driver said: “You used multiple methods of controlling behaviour, including threats, abuse and persistent monitoring of the victim by social media, the use of her bank accounts and creating false profiles – including imitating a police officer.

“Very serious harm and distress was caused, which had a substantive effect on every day of her life.”

Judge Driver also imposed a restraining order preventing Watson from contacting his victim or her family indefinitely.

He was also told to pay a victim surcharge.