A 23-year-old man from Warminster has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison following a brutal domestic abuse spree. Owen Coombs, of Kings Court, Warminster, was convicted at Swindon Magistrates Court on October 3rd, 2024.
Coombs faced multiple charges including controlling and coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), battery, and possession of a Class B drug. In addition to his custodial sentence, he has been issued a five-year restraining order.
The offences relate to a violent incident that occurred on August 26, 2024. After a verbal argument, Coombs violently grabbed his victim through a window and punched her in the face. The victim also reported that a theft took place during the altercation.
The sentencing details are as follows: two years for coercive and controlling behaviour, four months consecutive for ABH, and one month concurrent for battery. There was no separate penalty imposed for the drug possession charge.
Local Crime Investigator Amanda Southey praised the victim’s bravery, stating, “Coercive control has a significant impact on a person and often causes long-term adverse effects on their emotional well-being. This can make it harder for a victim to come forward, and I would like to thank the victim for their bravery in assisting our investigation.”
She added, “Without the victim’s courage in reporting the incidents to police, it would have been tough to secure this sentence against Coombs.”
Wiltshire Police have urged anyone experiencing domestic abuse to come forward and report incidents. Reports can be made via their website, by calling 101, or in emergencies by dialing 999. For further help and advice on reporting domestic abuse, individuals are encouraged to visit Wiltshire Police’s domestic abuse advice page.
Originally published by UKNIP.
