Duxford man jailed for assaulting and controlling ex-girlfriend
23 year old William Graham admitted to charges of coercive control.
A domestic abuser who controller his girlfriend's life and repeatedly assaulted her has been jailed for two years.
23 year old William Graham, of Petersfield Road, Duxford was also given an indefinite restraining order at Peterborough Crown Court after admitting to coercive or controlling behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He first met the victim in 2019, with the relationship rapidly becoming abusive.
The 23-year-old told her he was the only person she needed, said her friends were trying to break them up and shouted at her.
Graham threatened to harm himself when his ex tried to leave him and claimed he only acted in the way he did because he loved her.
He repeatedly punched or slapped her and also bent her arm behind her back. He smashed four of the victim's mobile phones over the course of their relationship.
The woman finally decided she had had enough of the abuse after Graham punched her so hard in the face she was left with a black eye.
Graham was arrested after the victim returned home and he kicked her, before breaking her phone. Upon arrest he gave officers a prepared statement.
PC Christian Effenburg, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: “The stories of abuse in this case are shocking and Graham thought he could make his girlfriend’s life a misery and avoid being caught. He was wrong.
“No person should have to suffer this kind of abuse and I would like to applaud the woman’s bravery in coming forwards.
“Domestic abuse isn’t always just physical. Victims can also suffer from the threat and fear of injury, daily intimidation and having every aspect of their life monitored and controlled. Coercive control is a criminal offence, and we take all reports of it very seriously.
“We would strongly urge anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse to contact police or call the national domestic violence helpline on 0808 2000 247.”