CONTROLLING 'BULLY' PUNCHED AND KICKED THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD AND DRAGGED HER UP THE STAIRS
A man repeatedly assaulted the mother of his child and controlled her life over the course of almost a year, a court heard.Kayne O’Dare, 26, started a relationship with Ravel Roxanne Grimbly in 2018.
However between September 22, 2020, and August 22, 2021, when the couple lived at a property in the St Mellons area of Cardiff, O’Dare’s behaviour changed and he became violent and controlling towards his partner.
He repeatedly assaulted his victim and left her with black eyes and at one point a broken arm.
When family members asked Miss Grimbly about her injuries she would not tell the truth about the state of the violent relationship she was in and the fact that her partner would control most aspects of her life.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard O’Dare kicked his victim at the home they shared together and put his arms around her neck to the point where she thought she was going to die.
He also told her after that particular attack that she deserved what he had done to her.
The court heard of a number of different occasions when violence was dished out by O’Dare including in October 2020 when he kicked Miss Grimbly when she turned around and faced him and in July 2021 when an argument ended with the defendant punching his victim in the ribs causing her to fall to the floor.
He then dragged her up the stairs before beginning to cry and trying to hug her.
A month later, in August 2021, O’Dare repeatedly kicked his then-partner in her arms and legs.
When she left to go to another room he followed her, picked up a chair, and threw it at her.
“The defendant controlled most aspects of her life,” said prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins.
“Throughout the period of time Miss Grimbly said she lost friends because she was not allowed to see them.
When she would try to meet up with them the defendant said she turned into a slag when she was with them.
The defendant also controlled her appearance, telling her not wear make-up.” This point was highlighted when a victim impact statement was read out in court.
In it Miss Grimbly said: “He said I was ugly with or without make-up.
This made me self-conscious and broke down my self-confidence.
I would be put off from going out with my friends and just stayed in the house with Kayne who constantly asked me where I was and what I was doing.
My head was always in another place because of the stress caused by Kayne.
"I felt vulnerable and alone.
My anxiety has become very bad and I am nervous when I go out in case I see Kayne.
If I didn’t have my little one I don’t know where I would be.
My arm has never been the same since, I have no strength in my arm.
I feel relieved that I found the strength to finally end the relationship.
Now that the relationship is over it’s a big weight off my shoulders.”
