A judge jailed a South Oxhey man for 42 months today after saying his behaviour towards two women was “evil, wicked and beastly”.

Judge Francis Sheridan told Darren Impleton it was about time somebody told him straight that he was a “serial wife beater”.

St Albans Crown Court heard that the 54-year-old was jealous and accused a Borehamwood woman of cheating on him. He had threatened to drown her and attack her with a makeshift flame-thrower.

Impleton threatened to stab her, forced her to delete her social media history and made her sleep on the floor saying she did not deserve to have a pillow. On a video call he made her show him around her home to prove that nobody else was there.

He verbally abused her and constantly rang her to check on her whereabouts. She was dragged onto a bed and he put his fingers on her eyelids , threatening to blind her.

Impleton had also put his hands around her neck and bit her on the nose, causing an injury that has to be hidden by make-up.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she now suffers from PTSD and depression and sleeps with the light on.

The Hertfordshire offences were committed in September 2022. While he was on bail Impleton formed a relationship with a woman in Eltham, south east London.

Impleton went through her phone and asked her neighbours to spy on her. He prevented her from leaving her home and constantly accused her of cheating on him.

Watford Observer: Darren Impleton.Darren Impleton. (Image: Herts Police)

On 15 May, this year, at 4am he yanked open the window of her home and tried to climb in. He also struck her with a mobile phone, causing a bruise.

Impleton of Muirfield Road, South Oxhey, appeared for sentence today (November 28) having pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence, non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and causing actual bodily harm on the Borehamwood woman.

He also appeared for sentence for controlling and coercive behaviour, assault by beating, and criminal damage in relation to the Eltham victim.

Defending, Corinne Bramwell said he did not intend to have any future contact with the victims.

In a letter to the judge he said: “I do accept full responsibility for my actions which were totally unacceptable and I am truly sorry.”

Since being held on remand he has been working in the prison church.

Judge Sheridan made a restraining order banning him from contacting the victims. He said the physical and psychological effects on the two victims were truly awful.

One of the victims thanked the judge as she left the court room.