Shropshire Star

JAILED: Telford man poured lighter fluid over fiancée and threatened to kill them both over break-up

A man poured lighter fluid over his and his then-fiancée's clothes and threatened to kill them both after she told him she wanted to end their relationship, a court heard.

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Shane Nethercot was jailed for two years and nine months after pleading guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour towards his ex-partner.

Mr Andrew Keogh, prosecuting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, said leading up to the episode involving lighter fluid, Nethercot had demonstrated a pattern of controlling behaviour towards his fiancée.

In a statement from his victim, read out by Mr Keogh, she said the pair got together in May 2015 and described the first three months of their relationship as "lovely" and had accepted his marriage proposal, however she noticed his behaviour started to change after that.

Mr Keogh said Nethercot, 23, of Trinity Road, Dawley, had become jealous and started to control who she could see, even stopping her from visiting her mother and friends.

The court heard how Nethercot had also smashed the victim's phone on three occasions, as well as monitoring what clothes she wore – stopping her from wearing anything revealing, as well as banning her from wearing makeup.

Nethercot had also started to take his partner's benefits from her.

The couple eventually moved into a shared house in Woodside, Telford, where he did not allow her to shower alone.

On one occasion, his fiancée tried to end the relationship with him but he got angry and threatened to kill himself.

During an argument on January 31, Nethercot threw a glass of water over his partner. She went on to punch him a number of times, and he kicked her in the stomach.

At that time she was still wet from the glass of water being poured over her and feared he was going to electrocute with bare electrical cables.

The woman once again told Nethercot she did not want to be with him anymore, so he took hold of some lighter fluid and told her: "If you don't want to be with me, I will kill us both", before pouring the fluid over her clothes and himself. He also poured lighter fluid over the bed, despite her screaming and telling him not to.

Nethercot was eventually arrested and interviewed under caution. He accepted pouring lighter fluid over himself but not over his fiancée. However he later pleaded guilty during a pre-trial review hearing.

Ms Lisa Hancox, defending, described Nethercot as a "troubled young man", who accepted his controlling behaviour was serious.

Sentencing him, Judge Peter Barrie told Nethercot he had behaved like a "violent bully" towards his victim. As well as an immediate prison sentence, Judge Barrie also imposed a restraining order, preventing Nethercot from contacting his former partner.

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