‘Obsessive’ volunteer officer changed shifts to pester former partner and threatened her with violence.

A Cheshire Special Constable who became obsessed with his role in the force has been found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and given a two-year prison sentence.

Daniel Glassey, 30, was named Special Constable of the Year at the force's annual awards ceremony last year and was said to be respected by his peers and line managers who praised his dedication.

However, behind closed doors he was a different person and made the lives of his victims "a living hell", said the detective who led the investigation into his behaviour.

Glassey joined the force in August 2017 and in the months that followed his former partner described how he became obsessed with the role, spending more and more time out on patrol.

Their relationship eventually broke down and his partner left him in June 2018 but Glassey refused to accept her decision and bombarded her with text messages and phone calls.

Many of the messages were described as vile and obnoxious, and on some occasions it was said he even demanded she send images to prove where she was and who she was with.

Before their break-up Glassey was said to have started a relationship with a serving officer in March 2018, with neither women aware of the other.

Their relationship was said to have begun to go downhill later that year when Glassey started to abuse and control her as he made persistent attempts to call, message and email her on a daily basis.

Police said he changed his shifts to ensure they were always working together and bombarded her with false claims that she was cheating, calling her names and constantly putting her down and belittling her.

Glassey also made threats to hurt her and physically assaulted her on a number of occasions, said police.

The abuse came to a head last April when she was out on a leaving party for a colleague at work and a colleague noticed that Glassey had phoned her more than 100 times and asked her what was going on. The victim broke down and revealed what had been happening and her colleague subsequently reported his actions to the police.

Glassey, of Dale Lane, Appleton, Warrington, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court last Friday after he earlier pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, and harassment without violence.

Following sentencing, Detective Constable Leanne Brundrett said: "To many of his colleagues Glassey was a well-respected and committed volunteer. His dedication even won an award in 2018 when he was named special constable of the year in Cheshire.

"But, behind closed doors he was a different person, he made his victims' lives a living hell. He tormented, violated and abused them both physically and emotionally, and the impact that it has had on them is unimaginable.

"One of them, who is a serving police officer, was subjected to repeated threats that he would throw acid in her face, kick her teeth in, burn her house down and get her sacked from work

"He also physically assaulted her on a number of occasions, spitting at her, pulling her hair, pushing her against a wall and stabbing her in the leg with a pen.

"Glassey even went as far as threatening to rape both of the women.

"Thankfully, as a result of the bravery and courage that they have shown throughout the investigation, Glassey is now facing the consequences of his actions."