Kius Francis has been jailed for 26 months after a violent assault on his former partner in which he backhanded her across the face, bit her, and forced her to hang half out of an open window. The attack occurred in November 2024 following nearly two years of coercive and controlling behaviour, Minshull Street Crown Court heard on August 19.
Relationship History and Controlling Behaviour
Prosecution barrister Ms Seren Lewis told the court that Francis and the victim had been in a relationship from ages 13 to 17, then rekindled their relationship in 2022. The victim described the relationship as 'stressful and abusive', with Francis 'having good days and horrible days'.
Ms Lewis detailed the control Francis exerted: "She would try not to wake him leaving for work in the morning as if she did he would scream and shout calling her a stupid b**** and a f***ing idiot." They shared locations, and he would turn up unannounced at her workplace or when she was out with friends. On one occasion, he entered a pub she was in, looked at her, and left without approaching. She stopped going out because it was too stressful. He told her what she could not wear, so she learned to dress in t-shirts and leggings to avoid arguments. He put her down, telling her she was not good enough and that nobody loved her, and would shout so loudly that his eyes popped out of his head.
The Violent Assault
On November 6, 2024, the victim woke at around 6.40am to Francis pulling the pillow from under her head. When she tried to take it back, he said she had hit him in the lip. Ms Lewis said: "She did not remember doing so. He then backhanded her in the face saying 'that's what you get for hitting me' and told her to f*** off." He then ran at her, grabbed her neck, and pushed her upper body out of an open window while she was naked. She fought back and hit him, after which he spat blood over her. He shoved her into the boiler cupboard, leaving a bruise, then threw her belongings into the hall. When she asked to put on clothes, he threw her into the front room and forced her to leave naked. A police officer observed a deep dark bruise on her right bicep, and three footprints and a bite mark on her back.
Phone records showed Francis contacted the victim 53 times that same evening. Police also found three snap bags of cannabis buds at the scene.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Francis, 29, of Cross Street in Sale, pleaded guilty to possession of a class B substance in November 2024 but denied assault causing actual bodily harm and coercive and controlling behaviour. He was convicted of the latter offences by magistrates in July 2026. Defence barrister Tom Worsfold noted Francis had four previous convictions for ten driving offences, which Judge Lester-Ashworth agreed were not relevant. Worsfold said Francis had not breached his bail and had no further issues since the incident, citing a letter written that morning with 'some reflections'. He also mentioned Francis was 'somewhat fixated on his GPS tag'. The judge questioned why he considered the tag a priority issue rather than remorse.
Worsfold argued the relationship was 'on-off' with 'intensity at the end', and that the victim did not remember all of the incident. When Worsfold suggested there were no teeth marks, the judge replied: "I've seen the photos, I am sure it was a bite mark." The judge rejected arguments for rehabilitation, jailing Francis for 26 months with a victim surcharge and a ten-year restraining order. "You left your footprint on her back," she told Francis. "This was a prolonged, persistent and serious assault. Men who subject their partners to domestic violence, belittle them, make them feel trapped and subject them to serious assault must go to prison."
