Surrey man jailed for horrific campaigns of coercive and controlling behaviour against two women

A Surrey man has been jailed for carrying out horrific campaigns of coercive and controlling behaviour against two women. Jacob Riordan would pull one of his victims to the floor by her hair and dragged her across a carpet before kicking and punching her He also demanded to see her phone and would question her on everyone that she had contact with.

Riordan became verbally and physically violent if she did not behave in a certain way. On April 15, 2022 in Farnborough[1], Riordan threw a piece of wood at the woman and pulled her hair before pushing her to the floor. Officers received a report about Riordan's behavour towards the woman in her 20s in April 2022.

It happened over a two-year period in Aldershot and Farnborough.

He was charged with two counts of assault by beating and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour. In October 2022, police received a further report that another woman in her 20s had been a victim of assault and ongoing coercive and controlling behaviour at the hands of Riordan.

The verbal and physical assaults began at an address in Farnborough in June 2022 and continued until October 2022.mRiordan caused the woman a number of injuries, including bruising to her arms, face and neck, a broken finger and broken skin after he bit her face. Throughout the five-month period, he demanded that the woman showed him her phone and would question her on every man that she had contact with. He would then become verbally and physically violent.

On one occasion, when driving his van, he chased after the woman who was in her car. He threatened to crash into her if she didn't pull over. On October 10, 2022 he smashed her phone and then assaulted her, punching her repeatedly in the face.

He was charged with assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour. Riordan, 33, of Whitewood Vale, Frimley[4], pleaded guilty to all of the offences at Winchester Crown Court. He was jailed for four years on Friday, December 1.

Victims left 'feeling broken'

PC Elaine Hughes led the investigation and said: "The behaviour of Riordan towards two young women was both horrific and heart-breaking.

The violence, control, manipulation and psychological abuse suffered by both poor young women was horrendous and left them feeling broken. "Both women showed incredible bravery and strength to speak up. Without their evidence, we would not have been able to bring Riordan to justice and see him behind bars for what he did.

"My thoughts are with the two young women, and their families and I would like to praise them for their courage to come forward and speak with us. Domestic abusers commit some of the worst offending imaginable, leaving lifelong physical and emotional scars on those affected. "Our officers do not tolerate any form of it and we will do everything in our power to work with specialist support services to help victims.

I want other people out there who are being abused and suffering in silence to please come to us and report it.

"We are here for you and will listen, but if you don't want to speak to a police officer there are independent support services out there that can give you the help you need."

How to seek help for domestic abuse

For more news across Surrey, visit our homepage here.[5]

References

1. ^ Farnborough (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
2. ^ Tributes paid to teen killed when wall collapsed as company fined GBP90k (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
3. ^ Thousands of Surrey homes sitting empty or used as second houses (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
4. ^ Frimley (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
5. ^ here. (www.getsurrey.co.uk)