Coercive boyfriend strangled and threatened to rape girlfriend

A coercive boyfriend strangled his partner and threatened to rape her in a fit of jealousy and anger, a court heard. Connor Jones was living with his now ex-partner at their home in Saltash and subjected her to emotional and physical abuse for several years.

At a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court on Thursday, November 7, it was heard how Jones, 27, from Alamein Road in the town, would lose his temper and throw objects at his partner including a vacuum cleaner and make-up chair which caused her to receive injuries to her chin and foot while on other occasions he slapped her across the face.

On September 15, 2022, as his victim was folding clothes at home, where their children were also present, Jones lost his rag and pushed her to the floor, pinned her hands down with his knees and put his hands around her neck and squeezed hard enough for his victim to struggle to breathe. It was then that he also threatened to rape her.

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After his partner reported the attack, Jones was arrested and interviewed by Devon and Cornwall Police. The court was told that in an interview, he said that when the pair argued, they would bear-hug each other, but on this occasion, he squeezed her too hard and argued that the previous incidents where he threw stuff at her had been accidents and denied threatening to rape her.

However, on the day of his set trial date in September this year, he pleaded guilty to one charge of intentional strangulation and another of coercive behaviour. The court also heard how the threat of rape had been used by Jones to maximise fear and distress in his victim.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Jones' ex-partner said his behaviour had left her traumatised and she now wakes up crying most nights. She said her mental health has been badly affected as a result. She added: "I'm scared to visit my friends and family in Saltash in case I see him on the bus or the train. I'm terrified that he will attempt to contact me. I'm fearful he will be using violence against me again."

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In mitigation, Deni Mathews said Jones had been a law-abiding person with no previous convictions until that point, which begged the question why he had behaved in such an appalling way towards his previous partner.

He added: "There is a sad familiarity to such cases in that Mr Jones observed such behaviours in his childhood which he has now perpetrated towards others.

"Despite good physical health he suffers from anxiety and depression and has not worked since he left school. He has shown genuine remorse. He was experiencing jealousy which he wishes to control and has sought out help for it. He can be properly managed in the community. He has not had any contact with his two children for some time and wants to resume that."

His Honour Judge Simon Carr said Jones had been violent towards his ex-partner on a regular basis which culminated in him grabbing her by the throat and threatening to rape her. He said this made for a very serious offence which had led his victim to feel terrified.

Judge Carr said he noted Jones' previous good character, challenging childhood and difficulties in controlling his anger. He added: "You tried to minimise the impact of your actions when you said "she bruises easily" and used this as an excuse for inflicting violence on someone."

Jones was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years with a mental health treatment requirement of 12 days and 50 days of rehabilitation activity requirement along with 150 hours of unpaid work. Judge Carr also imposed a restraining order on Jones not to contact his victim and not to enter an area of Liskeard for five years.

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