Man Accused of Chaining His Partner to Her Bed So She Wouldn’t ‘Sneak Out’ and Cheat on Him: Reports

A woman in Australia was reportedly chained to her bed by her partner, who feared she would “sneak out” and cheat on him.

Zane Woodward, 34, who lived with his partner in Oak Flats, south of Wollongong in New South Wales (NSW), has been accused of restraining his girlfriend using a chain and lock, according to the Australian newspaper the Daily Telegraph.

The woman was said to be occasionally unlocked to use the bathroom or eat, police sources told the Daily Telegraph.

news.com.au reported that the chain was a “heavy set, metal chain link fashioned into a cuff and padlocked to her right ankle,” citing police. The “cuff was then padlocked to a chain secured to the bed frame.”

The suspect reportedly began chaining the woman—whose identity remains undisclosed—to the bed in June or July of this year. He is also accused of taking her cell phone, wallet, and keys, and isolating her from family, friends, and work. The couple reportedly started dating in September 2024.

NSW Police confirmed in a news release that a 32-year-old woman came to Lake Illawarra Police Station to report an alleged domestic violence offense just after 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

“Police were told a 34-year-old man – known to her – allegedly detained her at a home on The Esplanade, Oak Flats, where she was allegedly assaulted by him,” the release stated, without naming the suspect.

The woman was taken to Shellharbour Hospital for treatment of her injuries, police said. Woodward was arrested at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at a home on Esplanade, Oak Flats.

He was charged with take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage (DV), common assault (DV), kidnap with intent to commit serious indictable offence occasion aggravated bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic), according to police.

Per the Daily Telegraph and news.com.au, the alleged victim escaped after Woodward took her to an ATM on Central Ave, Oak Flats. She hid in a pharmacy, got help from a customer, and then went to the police station to report the abuse.

On Thursday, Aug. 7, prosecutors said the woman showed police her injuries and that evidence consistent with her allegations was found in their home, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Medical experts documented multiple broken ribs, bruising, and a fractured eye socket. The injuries were noted to be “a couple of weeks old,” news.com.au reported.

Woodward’s lawyer, Matthew Ward, acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations but said Woodward’s mother, who lives nearby, believed the couple was living “happily” together, the Daily Telegraph added.

Woodward, who has learning disabilities, reportedly has a history of domestic violence allegations.

The suspect is expected back in court on Oct. 8, and his request for bail was denied, the Daily Telegraph noted.

NSW courts and police did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. Attempts to contact Woodward’s lawyer were also unsuccessful.