Property developer told wife 'I am God' during campaign of belittlement

This Nottinghamshire property developer referred to himself as “God” during a campaign of controlling behaviour over his wife. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Benedict Bramley’s "belittling and narcissistic” acts included him telling the victim “toe the line,” “I am Godlike” and “I will get any woman and a Ferrari”.

The 44-year-old also stopped her having any female friends telling her if she wanted one “to get a cleaner”. And in an impact statement, the now ex-wife told how what the defendant subjected her to left her “with no self-esteem or confidence”.

Handing him a suspended sentence, Judge Andrew Smith said: “This is classic belittling behaviour. You have just worn her down to the extent it has had a detrimental effect on her mental health.

“It was grandiose and narcissistic behaviour on your part which has left a substantial and devastating mark on her. She left the relationship feeling humiliated and lacking in confidence.

“You put yourself on a pedestal, referring to yourself as ‘God’ or ‘Godlike’. This had a corrosive impact on her.” Fergus Malone, prosecuting, said Bramley and the woman were in a relationship for eight years, during five of which they were husband-and-wife.

He said following the sudden and unexpected death of his father, who started the property firm the defendant worked for, Bramley’s behaviour changed markedly and he became controlling over the woman.

The prosecutor said: “He was consuming alcohol calling himself ‘a God’ and making her feel worthless. She said she wanted a female to come to the house and he would not let her, telling her if she wanted a female friend she should get a cleaner.”

Mr Malone said she secretly recorded conversations between them, some of the contents of which he read to the court. In one, he told her, “It is my house, do not ever go against me, I will be running everything, I am going to make so much money, I will get any woman, I will get a Ferrari.” The prosecutor said: “He said to her ‘I want you to toe the line, I am God, I am Godlike, I am the top of the food chain’.”

He read out part of a victim impact statement made by the woman. In it, she told how her "independence has been entirely eroded”. The offending took place between February 2021 and January 2022 and Bramley, of Albert Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour.

Mark Knowles, mitigating, said his client was hit hard by the death of his father who started the property business he worked for. He said he now works as a builder. Mr Knowles said: “He does not deny his behaviour was appalling.”

Judge Smith handed the defendant an eight-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, with a 30-day accredited programme and 20 rehabilitation sessions. He also ordered him to pay £500 towards the prosecution's costs and handed him a 10-year restraining order.