Powys man strangled, suffocated and gouged the eyes of his ex partner in 22 days of 'torture'

A former Powys man punched, kicked, strangled, suffocated and gouged the eyes of an ex partner over a 22 day period, a court has heard.

Oliver Groucott also tracked the victim's movements, monitored her mobile phone, withheld her keys, were verbally and physically abusive towards her and damaged her property.

The relationship began in 2024 and initially it was fine but Groucott became paranoid about her cheating on him, which was wholly unfounded.

The 23 year -old was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday for one charge of controlling and coercive behaviour after initially denying the offence, then admitting elements of it on a basis and then withdrawing the basis of plea.

Prosecuting, Mr Sol Hartley said Groucott became aggressive to her when he was drunk, he would go through her phone and when he did not find anything he would say she was deleting messages and that she was a 'good liar'.

He would talk her down and monitor her whereabouts, if they went out she would have to pay for food or drinks and put fuel in the car although he would brag as to how much money he had.

Mr Hartley said in December 2024 the situation got worse.

On December 3 she came home from work and he was drunk. They argued and while she was in the kitchen he pushed her over a chair. She tried to understand what was wrong with him and he was saying he was upset so she went to give him a hug and he squeezed her so hard she began to cry and asked him to stop. He did not and she had a bruise to her stomach. He was also punching and kicking her and she called her sister to collect her. She also gave a key to her sister for her flat as Groucott would take them away from her.

A few days later on December 7 he pushed her, punched her and strangled her. As she tried to leave the flat he pushed her to the chest she fell to the floor and got back up but he swiped her legs from under her and when she was on the floor he put her in a choke hold.

He locked the front door to the flat and hid the keys. He released her from the choke hold and began gouging her eyes. She thought she would die in the flat and no-one would save her.

On December 22 she had attended Hereford Hospital with stomach pain. He took her phone and saw messages between her and a male, who was her cousin, and thought they were arranging a date.

He ran off with the phone and locked himself in the car. He got out of the car, was calling her names and pushed her to the floor where she split her lip.

He sent photographs of her in her underwear to contacts in the phone and on the way home to Llandrindod Wells he snapped her vape, pulled over 15 or 16 times and told her to get out, would slap her if she looked at him and damaged a car seat.

The following day he sent her a message making out he was going to kill himself. He was in a rage, she was scared and asked her mum to call the police after he kicked her, punched her, strangled her and tried to suffocate her with a pillow.

The relationship ended soon afterwards.

The court was old Groucott, who now lives in Herefordshire, has no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Mr Alex Granville said he had been diagnosed with ADHD, was in full time employement and a scaffolding apprenticeship and his employers submitted a reference saying they wanted to keep him.

Mr Granville said Groucott had expressed remorse, accepted his appalling behaviour and makes no excuses.

“He lost the plot over those 22 days and he is very shameful about it and his family feel ashamed by his behaviour, and it has changed the dynamic at home. Substance misuse and poor emotional wellbeing were two of the key factors that led to his behaviour.”

But he said Groucott was now working with Turning Point, had been clean from drugs for two months and no longer drinks alcohol during the week. He said Groucott had a difficult upbringing and he currently lives with his parents.

Recorder D Harris said; “You became paranoid about her, you became jealous, you began to accuse her of cheating, allegations wholly unfounded and fanciful. You became aggressive to her and over a short space of time a pattern of behaviour started to develop of most concern to the court including strangulation, which created a huge risk of injury to her.

“On December 23 your behaviour escalated. As the days and weeks went past your violence towards her, your intimidation of her and bullying got worse and worse.

“The relationship ended at that time. She escaped from you, and its understandable that she would want to esacpe from you after the torture you put her through.”

Recorder Harris said Groucott intended to maximise the fear and distress caused and the victim suffered a fear of violence on many occasions over that month and was caused serious psychological harm.

But he said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

He gave Groucott a prison sentence of 18 months but he suspended it for two years. In the meantime he will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, undertake a mental health treatment programme for 12 months, complete 10 rehabilitation requirement sessions and three months of drug rehabilitation.

He will also have to pay £1000 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.