Cameron Morgan, 24, of St David's Road, Abergavenny, has been sentenced to 52 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour and inflicting grievous bodily harm. The court heard how Morgan subjected his former partner to a regime of abuse, intimidation, and violence, and later carried out a brutal attack on a woman in the street.
Abuse and Threats Against Partner
Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told the court that Morgan met his former partner online and that during the relationship he was abusive and threatening. As the relationship developed, the abuse became "daily," with Morgan calling the woman derogatory names, accusing her of being unfaithful, routinely starting arguments, threatening to destroy her property, and threatening to shoot her dogs and set fire to the stables where her horses were kept.
In March this year, Morgan became jealous that his partner had gone on a work trip and insisted she regularly videocall him so he could check who was in the room with her. The court also heard that Morgan assaulted his partner on three occasions by punching her in the face, including one incident while she was driving through Ystradowen.
Morgan also sought to intimidate his partner, on one occasion pointing a slingshot at her face while telling her she was lucky he loved her otherwise she would "have it." When the woman tried to leave, he threatened to harm her animals or hurt her family, and threatened to kill himself, blaming her for his feelings.
Unprovoked Street Attack
While on bail and being investigated for the earlier allegations, Morgan launched an unprovoked attack on a woman in Brynamman on June 20 this year after she turned down his advances. After drinking in the Tregib Arms pub, he approached the woman in the street and asked if she wanted to go home with him, indicating a nearby house on Cwmgarw Road.
The barrister said the woman told Morgan she wanted to catch up with her friends and go home, at which point he launched a "frenzied" attack, punching her to the ground with a "heavy blow" to the face, lifting her up by her hair and repeatedly punching her on the nose. He then picked her up by her clothing and threw her into a wall, where she struck her head. A friend of Morgan's intervened, and the woman fled to a nearby churchyard and called the police.
Police arrived and drove the injured woman to Carmarthen's Glangwili Hospital, where doctors found "multiple facial wounds," and x-rays and CT scans showed a broken nose, a broken upper jaw, and wrist injuries. Morgan was arrested outside the property he had pointed to, topless and shoeless, and officers formed the opinion he was intoxicated.
Impact on Victims and Sentencing
In a statement read to the court, Morgan's former partner said she was left suffering with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, and now does not feel safe anywhere. The woman he attacked in the street said the facial scars and nasal deformity were daily reminders of the attack, and that it had changed the way she views the world and stolen her independence and freedom.
Ian Ibrahim, for Morgan, said his client began misusing alcohol and cocaine at the age of 14 after falling in with an older peer group. He said Morgan was close to his mother but had no contact with his father. The barrister said Morgan was remorseful and wished to apologise to both women.
Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Morgan to 52 months in prison, comprising 22 months for coercive behaviour and 30 months for inflicting grievous bodily harm, to run consecutively, with one-quarter discounts for his guilty pleas. She activated 12 weeks of a previously imposed suspended sentence to run concurrently. Morgan was also made subject to restraining orders banning him from contacting either victim for five years.
