My controlling ex tried to stop me eating and attacked me in my own home – don’t suffer in silence like I did
A YOUNG mum has spoken for the first time after her ex broke into her home and attacked her and her new partner.
Callan Mears, 31, was subject to a restraining order which should have prevented him from making contact with his former partner Chloe Pearce.
Instead he smashed in her front door and attacked her and her partner, before making off with £1,500 of stolen property.
The attack was the culmination of almost five years of abuse, during which Mears prevented Chloe, 27, from eating because he did not want to be with a ‘fat pig’ and accused her of ‘being Amber Heard’ when she complained about his behaviour.
Warning signs
Mum of one Chloe, from Cardiff, says: “Looking back, I can’t believe I put up with it.
“Callan slowly wore down my confidence and my self-esteem until I couldn’t make a decision.
“It is such a relief to know he is behind bars. I want my story to be a warning to all other women.”
Chloe and Mears met in 2018 at a party and showered her with compliments.
She says: “Callan told me I was beautiful, he wanted to be with me every moment of the day. At first, I was flattered. It felt like true love.”
But early in their relationship, he accused her of flirting with other men.
She says: “He saw me walking out of work with a male colleague and flew into a temper, accusing me of cheating on him and breaking his heart.
“He jumped out of his car to warn my colleague off, which was awful. It was such an over-reaction.
“On another occasion, on a night out, I gave a homeless man my drink, because I hadn’t any money. Callan accused me of ‘pulling men in on purpose,’ and again he flew into a rage.
“These were all red flags, and I should have left him at that point.
“But Callan told me he’d had a terrible childhood, and he was insecure. He said I was the woman to turn his life around. He begged me to have a baby with him, he said I could save him.
“Emotionally, I was all over the place. Callan took me to hospital to have my contraception removed and a month later I was pregnant.
“When I was pregnant, he’d say to me: ‘Don’t eat all the food, I don’t want to be with a fat pig.’”
Further isolation
Their daughter, Monroe, was born in May 2019, and Chloe hoped this might be a new start. But instead, Callan became more abusive.
She says: “He didn’t like me seeing family or friends. I lost my job too. I was so reliant on him.”
He didn’t like me seeing family or friends. I lost my job too. I was so reliant on him
Chloe Pearce
But in November 2021, after Callan had smashed up their home in a temper, Chloe called a refuge and asked for help. He was arrested and ordered to stay away from her until 2024.
Chloe says: “I had dreaded going into a refuge but actually, it was so peaceful.
“I felt as if a weight had been lifted. I had contact with Callan for the sake of our daughter, but that was as far as it went.
“Our relationship was over.”
Chloe found a new home and began working as a letting’s agent.
In December 2022, she met a new partner, Chris Jones, through friends.
She says: “Callan found out I had a new partner and he sent me threatening text messages, but I didn’t ever think he’d go through with them.”
Further threats
But in February 2023, whilst Monroe was with her grandparents, Callan and an associate, Matthew Evans, smashed their way into Chloe’s home and attacked her and Chris.
She says: “At around 2am, we heard the gate slam and the letterbox rattled but I checked and there was nobody there.
“At 5.30am, I heard a loud bang downstairs and I got up.
“Callan ran past me, into the bedroom, and Matthew Evans grabbed me by the throat and said: ‘Be quiet. You stay down here.’
“I ran upstairs and saw them both stamping on Chris. I rang 999 and I was screaming at them to get off, making as much noise as I could.”
The two men fled, taking with them house and car keys, at a value of almost £1,500.
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Chloe says: “He is a monster.
“I’ve been through a really dark time since the attack. I’m really jumpy and anxious in my own home.
“It’s been really difficult for my daughter too. Chris and I split up soon after, it was too stressful for us both.
“I found out afterwards that Callan had a long criminal record and previous convictions for domestic abuse, which I had no idea about.
“I’m learning to love the freedom now he’s out of my life. I just wish I’d gone to the police sooner.”
Justice at last
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how 31-year-old Mears contacted Chloe before he smashed her front door in and entered her home in the early hours of February 19. He was accompanied by his friend 33-year-old Matthew Evans.
Thomas Stanway prosecuting told the court: “On December 9 2021 Callan Mears was made the subject of a restraining order to protect Chloe Pearce [following] harassment and malicious communications. It prohibited him from contacting her or going to her address until December 2024.
“On February 19 this year in the early hours of the morning Callan Mears left the victim voicemails on Chloe’s phone, making threats that he would come to her address and assault her boyfriend [at the time].”
Mr Stanway told the court how Mears had 12 previous convictions for 20 offences.
It is such a relief to know he is behind bars. I want my story to be a warning to all other women
Chloe Pearce
It included a battery offence in 2015, which happened within in a domestic setting with a previous partner – it landed him a community order and a restraining order. Mr Stanway told the court how Evans had four previous convictions for four offences.
Defending Mears, Andrew Kendall, told the court how the defendant has a “great deal of remorse and regret” for his actions and had described his own actions from the start as “disgusting”.
Ross McQuillan-Johnson for Evans said the defendant had “made no excuses” for his behaviour and believed his own actions were “abhorrent”.
He said Evans showed “genuine remorse for his behaviour”.
Mears was charged with two restraining order breaches, burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, burglary with theft or attempted theft with violence and assault.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
He was sentenced by Judge Shomon Khan to three years and nine months in prison for burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
He was also sentenced for 12 months concurrently for each other offence and given an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting or approaching Chloe. In addition he must pay £228 within six months of his release.
Evans was charged with burglary with theft or attempted theft with violence, assault and strangulation.
He was sentenced to three years in prison for burglary as well as 12 months in prison concurrently for each other offence.
He was given an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting or approaching Chloe and ordered to pay £228 within six months of his release.
If you need support or are worried about someone else, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or contact them online.