A regional daily website’s report on the case of a domestic abuser who urinated on his partner during an attack prompted an IPSO complaint from the victim.

The Yorkshire Evening Post website reported that a man was convicted at Leeds Crown Court after admitting to coercive control and stalking of his ex-partner.

The story, headlined “‘Twisted’ thug urinated on Leeds partner during attack and pretended to be an ex-Marine” made several references to her “new boyfriend.”

It reported: ““Even after she finally ended the relationship, he would call and message her, making threats to her and her new boyfriend”, and “He claimed she owed him money, threatened her with violence and her new boyfriend. He told her: ‘You think you can just start seeing a new fella?’”.

However the victim complained to the press watchdog under Clause 1 (Acccuracy) of the Editor’s Code, saying the man in question was not her “boyfriend” as they had only been on one date together.

She said her ex-partner would know who the article referred to, and expressed concerns about the impact the inaccuracy could have on her ex-partner’s behaviour towards her, in light of the nature and seriousness of his conviction.

The YEP did not accept the story was significantly inaccurate and that according to its reporter’s notes the defendant had referred to the man in court as the complainant’s “new fella.”

However in the light of her concerns it offered to remove the two references to “her new boyfriend” and the line: ‘You think you can just start seeing a new fella?’

This resolved the issue to the complainant’s satisfaction so no determination was made as to whether there had been a breach of the Code.

The full resolution statement can be read here.