![Gavin Eyles received a 32-month jail sentence at Gloucester Crown Court on February 8](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2022/02/09/TELEMMGLPICT000285335710_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqldZN29IDj70g04011bx5iI064TIrcX_7tT0sGCZw0_A.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Man with foot fetish who forced girlfriend to wear socks at all times jailed
Gavin Eyles, a film and TV actor, received 32-month jail sentence for coercive and controlling behaviour
![Gavin Eyles received a 32-month jail sentence at Gloucester Crown Court on February 8](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2022/02/09/TELEMMGLPICT000285335710_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqldZN29IDj70g04011bx5iI064TIrcX_7tT0sGCZw0_A.jpeg?imwidth=680)
A man with a foot fetish who forced his girlfriend to wear socks at all times has been jailed for coercive and controlling behaviour.
Gavin Eyles received a 32-month jail sentence at Gloucester Crown Court on February 8, but will soon walk free because he has already served his time while in custody on remand.
The 37-year-old film and TV actor, of Royal Oak Close, Chippenham, Wilts, pleaded guilty to two offences of using controlling and coercive behaviour towards the woman during their 18-month relationship.
The court heard that Eyles made her bathe with her socks on, demeaned her when she displeased him and dictated what she could watch on TV.
Eyles also told her what shoes and clothing she could wear and insisted that she wear socks all the time to never expose her feet.
Previously jailed for coercion
The actor, who appeared in the 2018 film Hurricane and in Disney's Muppets 2, had already been jailed in 2010 for 42 days for coercive behaviour towards an ex-partner, the prosecutor said.
The court heard that he had met the woman on social media in March 2019 and that his controlling behaviour worsened when the pair moved in together at the start of the pandemic.
David Maunder, prosecuting, said: "He dictated to her what clothing she could wear - 'nothing too revealing,' he would state. He would tell her he didn't want her looking like a drag queen."
"He appears to have a foot fetish. He wouldn't allow her to walk around in bare feet. She was ordered to wear socks and not to expose her feet in public," Mr Maunder added.
"He would also insist that she bathe with her socks on. He also had kinky habits in the bedroom, which frightened the woman."
Mr Maunder added that the woman "wanted to end it in July 2020 but he tried to convince her she was suffering from a mental trauma".
In court, Eyles also admitted to stalking the woman between August 19 2020 and September 19 2021, causing her serious alarm or distress.
Harrassed victim with silent calls from prison
The court heard that he was arrested on August 27 and given bail conditions not to contact his victim and not to enter Gloucestershire, however he then began a protracted harassment campaign.
"She began receiving silent calls. She could hear romantic songs being played down the line, songs that she and Eyles had talked about using for their future wedding," said Mr Maunder.
Eyles was re-arrested on September 18 and the court was told that an investigation carried out found he had phoned the woman 128 times from prison.
In a statement the woman said: "During the 18-month relationship I felt worthless. I felt I was living on edge."
She added: "I don't know if I can ever trust a man again. I feel like a nervous wreck all the time. The effect it has had on me has made me feel very anxious.
"I can't understand why somebody would do what Eyles did. He left me feeling hurt. He used me as his plaything."
Judge Ian Lawrie QC told Eyles: "A lot of your offending over the past few years is extremely disturbing. Whatever interpretation you put on it, to me it is sinister.
"Your offending has caused considerable emotional and psychological distress to the woman over a long period of time. You appear blind to the harm and stress you caused her."
Judge Lawrie jailed Eyles for two years and eight months and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £170. He also subjected him to a 10-year restraining order not to contact his victim by any means and prohibited him from entering Gloucestershire.
"I hope you have learnt a valuable lesson about treating women with respect and restraint," he told Eyles.