A SWINDON man allegedly subjected his partner to ten years of domestic abuse, a court heard today.

At Gloucester Crown Court Lee Coleman, 36, of Cassini Drive, denied controlling behaviour towards Amanda Scrivens likely to cause her fear that violence would be used on her.

He admitted assaulting his former partner on January 21 this year by putting a pillow over her face but he denied a third count of assault between September 30, 2015 and November 1, 2015.

The controlling behaviour charge involves allegations that Coleman sent threatening text messages to Ms Scrivens, told her that he planned to smother her to death, threatened to damage her house and throw her out, took her car keys and warned her that she had better keep one eye open whenever she went to sleep, the court heard.

Recorder James Barnes said: "Some elements of this count are accepted while others are not so this needs to be sorted out before the trial."

The court heard that Amanda Scrivens had made a number of complaints to police about the defendant's behaviour over the past ten years.

Coleman was remanded in custody and a trial date of July 18 was listed.