Latest news with #controllingbehaviour
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Bristol domestic abuser left woman 'looking like a skeleton'
A woman has described how she was left in "permanent survival mode" and "looking like a skeleton" as a result of her former partner's controlling behaviour. The victim, who has not been named, said she had also been "embarrassed and humiliated in public" on "many occasions" by Cody Smith-Alwood, a statement read out on her behalf at Bristol Crown Court, she said the trauma she endured over years in their relationship meant she struggled to from St George in Bristol, was jailed in June for more than three years, after pleading guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, assault, four public order offences and breaching a restraining order against a second woman. In the statement, Smith-Alwood's ex-partner told the court she "constantly worried" he would carry out his threats of suicide and self-harm, leaving her in "permanent survival mode" and "unable to make the right choices"."Over years I spent with Cody, this has left me shaken to my core and I still struggle to come to terms with what has happened," she said. "Mentally, I am struggling to cope with the trauma. I find it difficult to trust others and am constantly worried about the possibility of something like this happening again." Stab threats While refusing to acknowledge the relationship was over, the court heard, Smith-Alwood spent long periods in the victim's home, controlled her phone – calling her constantly – and threatened to reveal confidential information about her. As a result of his manipulative behaviour, the victim said, she found it "difficult to trust others" and suffered physical symptoms that her doctor linked to trauma from the relationship. "The emotional and mental impact left me unable to eat and I lost a significant amount of weight," she said, adding that she had been left looking "like a skeleton". Smith-Alwood was arrested in November 2024, following an argument at Avonview Cemetery in which he made threats to stab his ex-partner's brother and his friend. He also threw his ex-partner over his shoulder, police said, which led to her grazing her knee. Even from prison, he persisted in contacting her in the run-up to his court hearing. He has now been served with a seven-year restraining order to protect her. Det Con Annabelle Reeves-Linney, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the case had been "extremely complex".She said: "I am glad that we have been able to finally give the complainant the justice and peace she deserves after a long, hard and exhausting battle with domestic abuse."
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
'Controlling' Bristol man jailed for abusing seven partners
A man who subjected a number of women to a "domestic reign of terror" through his controlling and aggressive behaviour has been jailed for four years and eight Kelly, 23, would "love bomb" his victims with excessive displays of affection and move into their homes after just a few weeks before quickly taking over their previously of Staple Hill, South Gloucestershire, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 27 June after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour towards seven former partners between 2020 and Con Matilda Dowsing said Kelly "systematically controlled" his victims, leaving some feeling they would not be able to trust people again. Kelly had overlapping relationships with the women, but would repeatedly accuse them of being the unfaithful one and prevent them from Con Dowsing said: "Kelly has been sentenced after subjecting not just one victim, but seven victims, to a domestic reign of terror."She continued: "I am grateful for the seven victims for coming forward and I hope they are proud that their courage to report what happened has led to Kelly being jailed, however this conviction will never undo the trauma that he has caused."Controlling behaviour can be quite hard to measure, but that is the fundamental part – domestic abuse is about power." Avon and Somerset Police are trying to raise awareness of the signs someone is in an controlling or coercive relationship, such as the victim becoming isolated from friends and may also be subjected to constant criticism, veiled or direct threats, or extreme jealousy from their indications a loved one is being abused by a partner include their partner making their acceptance of them subject to certain conditions, such as forcing them to change their may also be pressured into unhealthy behaviours, such as taking illegal drugs or participating in unsafe sex.
