Man stands trial under new law tackling coercive behaviour

Then later that night Lee Coleman took a cushion and pressed it down so hard on the victim's face that she could not scream or make a sound, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

Mr Coleman had always kept tight control of his partner's life, allowing her to keep only £500 a month of her wages, belittlling and ridiculing her, refusing to support her plans to take over a pub - and ultimately threatening and assaulting her, the prosecution said.

Coleman, who had lived with the woman in Berkeley Close, South Cerney for 10-12 years, is on trial facing a charge brought under a new law against controlling and coercive behaviour within relationships.

The law was implemented last December and the case is believed to be the first of its kind in the South West region.

He has pleaded not guilty to using controlling and coercive behaviour against her between 15-22 January, causing her to fear on at least 2 occasions that violence would be used against her. The charge alleges he sent her texts threatening to damage her house and threatening to report that his car and bank cards had been stolen.

It further alleges he threatened to smother her to death by putting a cushion over her face.

A second charge alleges he assaulted her by beating between September 30 and November 1 of last year.

Rosemary Collins, prosecuting, told the jury that although the victim earned about £2,000 a month with cleaning and housekeeping jobs Coleman kept all but a £500 'allowance' that he gave her.

"We say that keeping hold of the purse strings in this way was one way of exercising control over his partner," she said.

At one stage they were looking into the possibility of taking over a local pub in South Cerney and he was initially supportive but then turned against the plan and would not support her, said the prosecutor.

"She tried to stand up for herself and said she would go ahead with it anyway but he ridiculed her ability to manage such an enterprise. He delighted in her disappointment. "

Ms Collins said that in January when the victim left the house with her children Coleman told her he would trash the property and her clothes and pour paint on the carpets if she did not return.

"He was texting her saying he would set fire to the house," she alleged. "She felt she had no choice and she went back on 18th January. The atmosphere was tense.

"On 20th January she suggested they talk about things. That evening they did talk but it turned into an argument and he threatened her. He said he had planned out in his mind how he was going to smother her to death.

"She wondered then whether to call the police but chose not to. That night she was so scared she slept in her sons' bedroom.

"At 8.19pm that night she received a very sinister text from the defendant saying 'You had better get used to sleeping with one eye open then. Ha ha.'

"She put a brave face on it and sent some messages back. In the middle of the night, about 2am, the defendant went into the bedroom with a cushion. He admits doing this. He has pleaded guilty to that assault on her.

"He pressed the cushion against her face. She describes waking up to find something furry on her lips and face. There was pressure pushing her back.

"She kicked and struggled but she couldn't make a sound because the cushion prevented her making any sound. "

When Coleman stopped pushing down the pillow he left the room saying "That will learn you. That's just a starter.

"Next morning at 7am he went to work taking the bank card and credit card. As soon as he had gone she grabbed some things and she and her family left the house.

"She really believed that the defendant was going to kill her and that he would come back and finish the job. She was terrified of him.

"But she couldn't leave in her car. The defendant had taken the keys. He emptied their joint bank account within minutes of leaving. "

As soon as she had got away from the house she called the police and Coleman was later arrested, Ms Collins added.

The trial continues.