Former cop ‘controlled’ his girlfriend, hearing told
A FORMER police officer is facing a misconduct hearing accused of “controlling” his girlfriend whom he allegedly threatened to leave behind on a holiday to America.
Former PC Jonathan Price was allegedly unfit to serve as a police officer because of his bullying treatment of his girlfriend.
Price is accused of repeatedly swearing at the woman and was aggressive when she came into contact with other men.
A South Wales Police misconduct hearing yesterday was told Price carried on the abuse on holiday on a dream trip to Georgia and New York in 2018.
It heard he locked his partner out of their hotel room and threatened to leave her behind – packing a bag to “ensure she believed he was being serious”.
Case presenter Jonathan Walters said: “The officer commenced a relationship with Ms A at some time in October 2017.
“The allegations against him all centre on the way in which he behaved towards her and others whom he came into contact as a result of that relationship.
“The relationship between Price and Ms A came to an end in the summer of 2018 when, finally, Ms A could no longer withstand the controlling, coercive, manipulative and abusive conduct towards her.”
Price is faced with allegations of discreditable conduct, aggressive behaviour, unlawful damage and unlawful assault against the same woman.
The hearing was told Price searched her phone and called her a “stinking rat” when he found messages from her female best friend.
He then repeatedly accused her of “wanting attention from other males” and made derogatory comments about her appearance and clothes.
Mr Walters said: “This was not simply the to-ings and fro-ings of a relationship that was tempestuous.
“This former officer is someone who should not and will not be a police officer.
“We contend that it was controlling and coercive and did constitute emotional abuse. The evidence is compelling and unchallenged. It describes an individual who defies the norms of decent behaviour.
“The behaviour of Price amounts to a breach of the standard of professional behaviour. The behaviours are so serious that they amount to gross misconduct.”
Price is also accused of causing soreness to Ms A’s ribs after bundling her into a taxi and repeatedly referring to her as a “f ****** c***” after a “night out which went badly” in Bridgend.
Price quit South Wales Police in 2019 but faces a misconduct hearing to decide if he can ever rejoin the force.
The hearing in Pencoed continues.