A man has appeared in court charged with several counts of assault against an ex-partner and threatening to kill her.

Brandon Proffitt-Evans, 23, of Dixon Way, Westlea, pleaded not guilty to making threats to kill and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour at Swindon Magistrates Court on Monday, November 1.

He did not wish to enter a plea for two counts of assault at this stage.

Ms Winters, prosecuting, told the court how Evans had been involved in two separate incidents where he had allegedly assaulted an ex-partner and threatened to kill her. 

The first on October 21 at her home is said to have taken place after he was denied access to a property and was told not to come in. 

Nevertheless, he reportedly ignored the victim and kept banging on the door trying to force his way into the house which is when the alleged assault took place.

She says he then ripped the Ring doorbell camera off and he later accepted he did damage the doorbell but denied assaulting her.

Then on November 1, the woman claimed there another incident took place where following an argument he is alleged to have painfully squeezed her with a 'hug'.

After he is said to have become aggressive and threatened her with a knife. 

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The alleged victim claims she was telling him things she thought would calm him down but was left “terrified” and “fearful”.

It is understood that she had confided in a friend about the defendant's alleged ongoing behaviour.

Ms Winters continued to suggest that Evans, who works at Halfords, was “controlling and coercive for the entirety of the relationship”, including physical violence, and refused to accept the relationship was over.

The Advertiser believes this case is connected to the police incident at Halfords on Friday evening when eyewitnesses saw three police cars outside the store on Paddington Drive in West Swindon and said a man was being arrested and taken away in a police van.

(Image: Newsquest)

In mitigation, Ms Hillier, defending, said Evans had no previous convictions and had in fact made reports to the police about his alleged victim.

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She said he admitted “recklessly” damaging the doorbell but claims he was doing the washing up with a knife in his hand and did not place it near her stomach and was trying to give her a hug but had “no force to it.”

After being held in custody over the weekend, he was released on bail with strict conditions not to contact his ex-partner either directly or indirectly and is awaiting another hearing.

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