He told the court he felt ‘very ashamed’
Ben Mellors admitted coercive and controlling behaviour(Image: Hull Live)
A vindictive and jealous teenager angrily punched his girlfriend while they were on holiday in Turkey – and threatened to hurl her belongings over a balcony. Ben Mellors threw her out of their room after suspecting that she was cheating on him.
He was like a “rabid animal” during another violent attack and he also sent “horrible” and “appalling” videos to her during a relentless campaign of aggressive behaviour that was “slowly killing” her, Hull Crown Court heard. Mellors, 19, of Stornaway Square, Hull, admitted using controlling and coercive behaviour between May 1 and December 6, 2024, intentional strangulation on July 22, 2024 and harassment between December 5, 2024 and January 27 last year.
Vincent Blake-Barnard, prosecuting, said that Mellors and his girlfriend, also 19, began a relationship in March 2023 but he later became increasingly jealous and convinced himself that she was cheating on him. He limited the people that she could see and telephoned her constantly.
Mellors demanded the passwords for all her social media accounts and deleted friends that he did not approve of, threw things at her and punched walls when he did not get his own way. She felt uncomfortable and threatened.
“He became possessive and would lock her in,” said Mr Blake-Barnard. Mellors would make threats when he did not get his own way. Violence against her escalated.
On one occasion, Mellors grabbed his girlfriend’s hair and pushed her into a wall, where she hit her head. He shouted at her: “You’re coming to my house whether you like it or not.”
During a holiday to Turkey on July 20, 2024, Mellors became jealous, threw her out of their room and threatened to throw her things off a balcony. “He had suspicions that she was cheating on him,” said Mr Blake-Barnard.
Arguments continued and he punched her in her eye with a clenched fist, leaving her bruised and dizzy. After they returned home, they were bickering and arguing, including about a takeaway.
“He attacked her,” said Mr Blake-Barnard. Mellors was like a “rabid animal” and he grabbed her with both hands and knelt over her.
She tried to pull his hand away but could not do so because of the force that he was using. He strangled her and her head felt fuzzy.
“That was the last thing she remembered until she came round,” said Mr Blake-Barnard. Mellors was laughing but she was deeply upset.
She went to the bathroom and was in there for more than an hour until he apologised. He went to her workplace in St Stephen’s shopping centre, Hull, because she did not reply to his text messages.
“He accused her of cheating on him,” said Mr Blake-Barnard. Mellors slapped her. She later left her job but he continued asking her for money. Throughout November 2024, things were “particularly bad” and he kicked and slapped her at least once a day.
She said that she wanted to leave but he became aggressive, shouting and screaming at her.
She tried to ring her father but Mellors grabbed her phone and threw it. “She used the opportunity to run from the house,” said Mr Blake-Barnard. She finally ended the relationship on December 5, 2024.
After this, Mellors continued to contact her and sent two “horrible” and “appalling” videos as well as a voice message, repeatedly using aggressive language and the f-word. One video showed him flicking a lighter very close to a throw of hers, implying that he was going to set it on fire.
The telephone calls continued during December 2024 and January last year. The woman told the court: “Everybody else could see the signs before me.” She believed that Mellors “tricked” her into believing that he was a good person.
Mellors was “controlling and narcissistic” and he laughed in her face. “It was slowly killing me,” she said. “He laid hands on me countless times.
“I still struggle to see the benefit he got from it all. I feel vulnerable because of him. I wish I could erase him from my memory. I hate him.” She suffered flashbacks and felt pain inside.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that there were references for Mellors. He had no previous convictions and he worked building caravans.
Mellors, a cannabis user, told the court: “I would just like to say I am very sorry for what I have done. I feel ashamed of myself. Very ashamed.”
Mellors was given an 18-month suspended custodial sentence, 20 days’ rehabilitation and a 26-session probation service programme. He was given a five-year restraining order.
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