An abusive man who beat his ex-partner and would not let her see her friends has been convicted.

Carl Gallyer, 37, of Kings Farm Avenue, Richmond, was found guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour, assault and four counts of criminal damage at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on September 13.

Gallyer beat his victim, smashed her phones on four separate occasions, would not let her see friends, held her social media passwords, checked her bank transactions over many months “all to control her in an abusive relationship”.

Safira Afzal, CPS London reviewing lawyer, said: “Carl Gallyer used violence against his victim to frighten and intimidate her.

“His behaviour caused her to become isolated, fearful and she was even bullied into withdrawing an earlier assault complaint to police.

“This is exactly the pattern of behaviour that the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour aims to target and eradicate.”

Gallyer will next appear on September 19 at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, but an application has been made for him to be sentenced at Crown Court due to the seriousness of the offences. 

In 2015, a coercive and controlling behaviour offence came into force, which means that if the abuse falls short of violence a maximum of five years in prison can be handed down.

Providing guidelines for the court, the Government has outlined the following definitions: “Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

“Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.”