A domestic abuser has been jailed after he choked a woman and assaulted her and poured boiling water into a fish tank to kill her fish.
Alexander Chennell, 31, carried out the offences from March to May this year and, in one incident, he grabbed Elizabeth Wright by her hair and choked her.
In another incident, he prevented her from leaving her home and then poured boiling water into a fish tank to kill a fish.
Jeffrey Lamb, prosecuting, told Hove Crown Court that Chennell tried to isolate his former partner from her friends and family and left her in fear for her safety.
He grabbed her cat one occasion and damaged a door in her home by punching and kicking it.
She reported what was happening to the police and he was arrested and charged.
At Hove Crown Court on Monday 17 August, he admitted coercive and controlling behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional strangulation, criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Judge David Rennie jailed Chennell, of Brookers Road, Billingshurst, for three years and imposed a 10-year restraining order banning him from contacting his ex.
Miss Wright said that Chennell had entered her “sanctuary” and “caused chaos” and left her tired of making excuses for his abusive behaviour.
After the case, Sergeant Simon Mayer said: “Chennell abused the victim and left her in fear.
“We take reports of violence against women and girls extremely seriously and tackling it is a priority for Sussex Police.
“We were determined to get justice for the victim in this case and Chennell is now serving a custodial sentence.”
