MAN JAILED AFTER A COURT HEARD A WOMAN SUFFERED SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE DUE TO HIS COERCIVE BEHAVIOUR AND HARASSMENT.
Aaron Roberts, aged 31 and from Pwllheli, was sentenced to three years in prison by Caernarfon Crown Court on December 7.Prosecutor Richard Edwards explained during the hearing that Roberts had once told his ex-partner what hair colour she should have, highlighting the volatile and toxic nature of their relationship.
Roberts engaged in isolating his victim from her friends and family members, and threatened to distribute intimate photos of her that he secretly took online.
He also threatened to commit suicide to manipulate her, dictated her clothing choices, and persistently checked her mobile phone.
Following the end of their relationship, Roberts continued to send her abusive and derogatory messages across various platforms.
In her victim statement, she described feelings of difficulty in breathing, along with sensations of being isolated, anxious, and on edge.
She rarely interacted with loved ones and only realised the extent of his impact on her after being free from his influence.
Her confidence was notably diminished, which her family also observed as a decline in her mental health.
She suffers from flashbacks, auditory hallucinations, and panic attacks, and avoids visiting Pwllheli.
Though still experiencing episodes of depression and anxiety and feeling on edge, she now declares that she can breathe more freely.
Her confidence is gradually returning.
Roberts had a record of 21 previous convictions across 29 offences, including a breach of a restraining order against a former partner in 2016.
Defence lawyer Dafydd Roberts acknowledged that a custodial sentence of some length was unavoidable, citing Roberts' use of drugs as a way to cope with his personal struggles.
He noted some improvement since Roberts’s remand, mentioning that his compliance was inconsistent but better than before.
The lawyer emphasized Roberts' understanding that he needs to develop healthier coping mechanisms and use his time productively, intending to prevent relapse after his release.
During sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman stated Roberts would be eligible for release on licence after serving half of his three-year term.
She also ordered the confiscation and destruction of any devices containing the illicit images, instructing police to ensure this was carried out.
Roberts was also given a 10-year restraining order, prohibiting any direct or indirect contact with his former partner on social media.
He is required to pay a £170 victim surcharge within three months of his release.
The judge highlighted the severity of his actions, noting: “You controlled and coerced a person with whom you were in an intimate relationship, and you harassed her.
“Within your relationship, you were abusive verbally, aggressive, kept her away from her family, isolated her, and kept and controlled her phone.
“The impact upon her has been significant.
She still suffers from psychological problems; so much so that she now suffers from auditory hallucinations.
“This is a serious mental disorder, caused by your actions and your actions alone.”
