A man has been jailed after subjecting his partner to years of abuse where he threatened her with a boiled kettle and a cable around her neck. Stanimir Asenov was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Merthyr Crown Court on December 9 for his actions.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to multiple assaults but a jury found him guilty of assualt amounting to grievious bodily harm during a trial in October. A statement from South Wales Police commended the victim for coming forward after feeling trapped in the relationship.
Police described how the victim said the relationship was "toxic" and "full of jealousy", detailing how she was accused of having affairs. The victim told how her passport was withdrawn and finances were controlled via online apps, contributing to the manipulation to remain married.
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Police said Asenov also controlled her contact with others by linking her email and social media accounts to his devices so he could view and control them. Despite the language and cultural barriers, officers were able to build a relationship with the victim and gain her trust and confidence, enabling her to open up and tell her story which gave the investigation team enough evidence to prosecute.
The victim disclosed that she had been subjected to controlling behaviour and abuse throughout, beginning around six years ago. The victim described how she was threatened if she didn't follow his rules and was sometimes threatened with a boiled kettle or a cable around her neck.
Police said the abuse was also physical, but he would tell her to be quiet about it or he would pull her teeth out, spray hairspray in her mouth or kill her. Along with his sentence, Asenov, of Abercynon, was also handed a 12 year restraining order. You can read more court stories here.
PC Andrew Falder, who investigated the case, said: “Stanimir Asenov is a violent and controlling individual who left his partner terrified after he abused and assaulted her for years. I would like to thank the victim in this case for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout, and I sincerely hope Asenov’s conviction gives her some comfort. Her strength and determination has now resulted in this successful prosecution.”
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, police urge you to contact them on 101 or via this link. However, in an emergency, always call 999. If you dial 999 and are unable to speak, the emergency operator will ask you to dial 55 and to follow their instruction to quickly put you in touch with police.
For support, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and support is also available locally by calling the numbers below. If you are committing abuse and feel like you need help and want to change, you can contact Respect on 0808 8024040.
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