A 26-year-old Cardiff man has received a suspended prison sentence after subjecting his pregnant partner to repeated violence, leaving her fearing for her life during some of the assaults. Callum Coate, residing in the Splott area of the city, waged a campaign of intimidation and serious physical abuse both before and after the birth of their child, details heard at Cardiff Crown Court have revealed.
The court was told that Coate’s relationship with the victim began in 2023, but early on, troubling patterns of coercion and aggression emerged. Prosecutor Alex Orndal described how Coate’s behaviour became increasingly possessive, characterised by relentless questioning about his partner’s whereabouts and a barrage of texts and calls—escalating to 50 messages and 10 phone calls in short intervals. This obsessive contact was accompanied by verbal abuse, with Coate hurling derogatory insults and repeatedly accusing his partner of cheating.
Financial demands fuelled further violence. When the victim refused to give him money, often for cannabis, Coate’s response was to become physically aggressive. One of the most serious incidents occurred on 23rd February last year, when Coate began causing damage inside the victim’s home before attacking her. He scratched, punched, and kicked her, then choked her with both hands until she struggled desperately to breathe.
Another shocking assault took place on 23rd May, when the victim was ten weeks pregnant. An argument erupted after her cousin visited the property. As she tried to leave for work, Coate blocked her path. The situation quickly escalated: he pulled her towards him, punched her in the chest, scratched her shoulder, and, with shocking violence, kneed her in the stomach—the trauma leaving her terrified for the wellbeing of her unborn child.
Later that year, on 26th October, the pattern of abuse continued. The court heard that Coate, believed by his partner to have been under the influence of cocaine, struck her with a closed fist and once again used both hands to strangle her, leaving visible marks on her neck. Each incident left the victim more traumatised, yet the cycle of abuse persisted.
The acts of violence did not cease following the birth of their daughter. The final assault recounted in court took place in February of this year, and was among the most severe. Coate, having accused his partner of infidelity, emptied rubbish around the living room and, when his partner attempted to record his behaviour, he pinned her to a wall by her neck and lifted her clear off the floor. She lost consciousness, convinced in that terrifying moment that she would be killed.
After coming around, the victim found Coate crying and apologising. She managed to force him out of the property, but he soon returned, screaming through the letterbox and demanding entry, remaining outside the house for hours before eventually leaving. Police were subsequently called and Coate was arrested. In interview, he claimed his actions were taken in self-defence, asserting the victim had threatened him with a knife.
Coate pleaded guilty to charges including controlling and coercive behaviour, three counts of intentional strangulation, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. It was noted in court that this was his first offence. His barrister, Adam Sharp, told the court that Coate had diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and a learning disability—factors which, the defence argued, should be taken into account in sentencing.
The victim’s personal statement, read aloud during the hearing, painted a harrowing picture of the aftermath. She described ongoing anxiety, hypervigilance, and an inability to feel safe in her own home or in public places. Night terrors, persistent sleeplessness, and a constant state of fear now define her day-to-day existence, she explained.
In delivering his sentence, Judge Paul Hobson told Coate: “You were violent and threatening towards her; she didn’t deserve to be treated like this.” Coate was handed a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. In addition, he must complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity and is subject to a restraining order barring contact with the victim for 10 years.
This distressing case underlines the ongoing societal challenge of addressing domestic abuse and ensuring robust safeguarding for vulnerable individuals who entrust their safety to partners. The sentence, while suspended, sends a message about the gravity with which such offences are viewed by the courts, and the urgent need for support for survivors.