Cheltenham man jailed after threats to throw acid at partner

Antony J Scott was jailed for three and a half years

A man has been jailed after threatening to throw acid on his partner and abusing her for years.

Gloucester Crown Court heard Antony J Scott, 42, subjected the woman to physical and emotional abuse, as well as coercive and controlling behaviour.

Scott, of Mill Lane in Cheltenham, was jailed for three and a half years and given a ten year restraining order.

In a victim impact statement, his partner said: "My self-esteem and self-worth have vanished.

"I have been made to feel like I am worthless. My voice has been taken away."

Scott physically assaulted the woman on six known occasions, causing injuries and distress, the court heard.

In one instance, the jury was told he grabbed the steering wheel while the woman was driving along the A40 in Cheltenham and the car was swerving to the left and right.

He then punched the woman to her left thigh and she was so fearful of a further assault she pulled the handbrake up in an attempt to exit the car quickly, jurors were told.

Before the woman could get out of the car, Scott grabbed her hair and pushed her head between the front seats, the court heard.

'Abhorrent, degrading and intimidating'

On 22 January, a jury found Scott guilty of two counts of coercive and controlling behaviour and one count of witness intimidation, after he threatened to throw acid in the victim's face should she attend the trial.

Sentencing Scott on Tuesday, Judge Lowe said: "You frequently humiliated her, you isolated her from friends and family, and made her feel worthless.

"You checked up on her telephone use, and told her where she could go and with whom she could spend time.

"Several of these assaults caused ABH-level injuries, in the form of bruising and hair loss."

Investigating officers Sgt Figgett and PC Hayes said the case had been "incredibly complex".

"The abuse the victim has suffered at the hands of Scott has been severe, abhorrent, degrading, and intimidating.

"The victim was reduced to a shadow of her former self, gaslighted, assaulted, and belittled.

"She has shown huge amounts of courage and resilience by stepping forward and giving evidence," they said.