Girlfriend was forced to take cocaine, court told
A “CONTROLLING” boyfriend kicked and punched his partner outside a Christmas party then forced her to snort lines of cocaine, a court heard.
Christopher Cooksey, 33, also allegedly made Stephanie Watkiss drink large quantities of Malibu and at points only let her outside “in his company”.
Jurors were told the situation reached the point where Ms Watkiss took a deliberate overdose as she “felt she had no way out”.
Cardiff Crown Court was told yesterday that Cooksey grabbed Ms Watkiss by the back of the neck and forced her to take the Class A drug cocaine after her work Christmas party in December last year.
The defendant is alleged to have assaulted her by punching her in the face and kicking her in the chest after an argument between the two prompted them to leave the party.
A jury was told several further incidents of assault occurred in December, after which Cooksey prevented her from leaving the house for fear someone would see her injuries.
Opening the trial, prosecutor Matthew Cobb told the court the couple met in September 2017.
Mr Cobb said: “The defendant started to exercise control from an early stage in their relationship. For her part, she didn’t see it as controlling in the early stages but saw it as him being protective.”
Mr Cobb told the court that on December 3 the couple attended Ms Watkiss’ work Christmas party.
After about 40 minutes a disagreement occurred between the couple and they walked outside.
Mr Cobb said: “He grabbed her by the arms and threw her to the floor – her dress was ruined and she was crying hysterically.”
While they walked back to the bed and breakfast they had booked, Mr Cobb said Cooksey remained “aggressive”, punching her in the face and kicking her in the chest.
After they arrived, Mr Cobb said: “He insisted that she clean herself up but also insisted she take cocaine.”
When she refused, Mr Cobb said he grabbed her by the back of the neck and dragged her to the lines of cocaine he had cut, making her snort them.
The court heard that on December 8 Ms Watkiss received a text message while she was in the shower from a female work colleague telling her she had arrived at a concert safely.
Mr Cobb said: “Mr Cooksey was unhappy when that text message arrived.”
He said Cooksey accused her of being “over-friendly with other males” and “wouldn’t let the subject drop”.
The following evening the court heard Ms Watkiss fell asleep on the sofa. When she woke she found her then partner had accessed her Facebook account on her mobile phone in the bedroom.
Mr Cobb said Cooksey took issue with one message sent in 2016. The court heard he became violent, punching her repeatedly in the face and ribs and “calling her a whore”. She was left with black eyes and bruising to her ribs.
Mr Cobb said: “He returned to the room with a bottle of Malibu, forcing her to drink a large amount.
“She took herself half-dressed to the kitchen to drink the Malibu. She forced it down as he watched.”
The defendant, of Gloster’s Parade, Pontypool, denies one count of administering a poisonous or noxious substance to Ms Watkiss in December last year.
He also denies four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one of assault by beating, one of false imprisonment, and one of controlling and coercive behaviour against his then girlfriend.
The trial continues.