A man has pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour against his ex-partner.

Shane Caygill, 26, of Bremilham Rise, Malmesbury, appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, November 27.

The offences were said to take place between June 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024 during an on-off relationship where Caygill would continuously check his partner’s phone and block male contacts and prevent her from seeing other men.

Mr Ballinger, prosecuting, told the court that the pair first separated in March 2023 but they later got back together.

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But the victim said their arguing escalated when he was drinking or taking drugs and they broke up again on boxing day of 2023.

He would also Facetime call her to ask her to show him the room she was in when she was away from him, to make sure she was alone, and demand she replied to his messages immediately and meet up with him as soon as he asked.

Her family provided statements to the prosecution outlining that she used to be a bubbly person but became withdrawn and stopped having contact with them and her friends as a result of Caygill’s behaviour.

The hearing was adjourned until January 9, 2025 pending a pre-sentencing report and Caygill will be remanded on conditional bail until his next appearance at Swindon Magistrates' Court.

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