MAN JAILED FOR CONTROLLING AND VIOLENT ABUSE OF FORMER PARTNER
A man from Newlyn has received a three-year prison sentence after being found guilty of severe coercive and controlling conduct towards his teenage partner, which included repeated physical assaults, humiliation, and emotional abuse over a period of nine months.Taylor Roddy, aged 27 and residing on Boase Street in Newlyn, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court to serve three years for his offences involving controlling behaviour and actual bodily harm against his former partner.
Roddy was convicted following an earlier trial that covered incidents from 30 January 2024 to 30 September 2024, during which the victim was 19 years old and he was between 24 and 25.
He is required to serve half of his sentence in prison before being released on license and must adhere to a ten-year restraining order.
The court was told that Roddy's abusive behaviour began in early January 2024 with altercations that later escalated into ongoing violence and intimidation.
In mid-January during a night out in St Ives, the victim reported being punched and kicked by Roddy and others, and upon returning home, he caused extensive damage to their flat by tearing curtains, breaking furniture, and smashing various items.
On a separate occasion, he pushed her onto the floor with such force that she injured her toe and ankle, an assault which was the basis for the bodily harm charge.
In March, while out in St Ives, Roddy rugby-tackled her, resulting in bruises to her leg and a cut to her arm.
The court also heard evidence of two biting incidents in April 2024, injuries she described in her testimony, and a May episode where he grabbed her arm, pulled her to the ground, and left her distressed enough to flee to her workplace in her dressing gown after taking her phone.
She recounted being held in a chokehold so tight that she struggled to breathe, and at one point, she had to hit Roddy with a Wi-Fi router to free herself.
On her 20th birthday in September 2024, during a night out in Plymouth, Roddy slapped her across the face.
Photographs shown during the trial depicted extensive bruising on her limbs consistent with repeated abuse.
Beyond physical violence, prosecutors outlined that Roddy engaged in ongoing emotional manipulation and verbal abuse.
A voice recording from 29 March 2024 captured him angrily shouting, which the judge said would be memorable.
The court was informed that Roddy frequently accused her of infidelity, posted false allegations online, and spread rumors to her family to shame her.
He also controlled her communication, repeatedly demanded her whereabouts, and insisted on monitoring her location.
Messages revealed that Roddy threatened suicide and blamed her, with statements like “I hope you’re proud,” part of his pattern of coercive conduct.
Financial control was also evident, as she and her mother faced bills related to their shared tenancy despite plans that Roddy would cover the rent.
In a personal statement read in court, the victim described feeling anxious and hypervigilant daily due to Roddy’s unpredictable temper, especially when drinking.
She experienced panic attacks and stated that the abuse had caused long-lasting damage to her mental health and self-esteem.
Medical records confirmed that after their relationship ended in January 2025, she sought help, was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, prescribed medication, and was signed off work.
Prosecutors argued that the case fell into the top category of seriousness for coercive and controlling behaviour, citing repeated violence, property damage, threats meant to induce fear, and public humiliation.
They noted there was a fear of violence at least nine times and that the abuse had significantly and persistently impacted her life.
In his defence, barrister Harriet Summerhayes pointed to the length of the case’s progression and described Roddy as a different man now, highlighting his good character aside from a prior drink-driving offence.
She also noted that Roddy’s imprisonment would cause financial hardship for his family, who depended on him for rent payments.
During sentencing, Judge James Adkin described Roddy’s conduct as terrible during the relationship.
He highlighted that Roddy had physically assaulted her through biting, headlocks, slapping, and pushing, with the injury to her toe standing out as particularly serious.
The judge observed that Roddy had also exercised psychological control through jealousy, false accusations, online humiliation, gaslighting, and threats of suicide if she left.
Using sentencing guidelines, the judge identified high culpability and serious harm, with aggravating factors including efforts to hinder reporting, frequent drunkenness, and debt accumulation.
He remarked that Roddy showed no remorse, attempted to deceive the jury, and possessed deeply ingrained behavioural traits that raised concerns about any future relationships with women.
The judge ordered a ten-year restraining order preventing Roddy from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, visiting her residence, or making any references to her on social media.
He also stated that the 18-month sentence for the assault would run concurrently with the other sentence and confirmed that, due to the gravity of the offences and the risk posed, the three-year term for coercive behaviour would not be suspended.
