Former soldier made partner’s life ‘a nightmare’
AFORMER soldier with a long history of beating and abusing women turned his partner’s life into a “nightmare” with his controlling behaviour, a court has heard.
Darran Porch – who has 27 previous convictions for violence, “almost all” of which are domestic in nature – used a fake identity on a dating site to hide his past.
Having “lured” a woman into a relationship under false pretences he then effectively took over her life – cutting her off from her friends, monitoring her movements, not allowing her to go to the toilet unless he was present, and controlling which positions she could sleep in.
Swansea Crown Court heard the former solider suffers from “complex and severe” post-traumatic stress disorder and while he craves a normal relationship with a wife and children he realises that because of his past that is not going to be possible.
Helen Randall, prosecuting, said in the summer of 2021 Porch met his victim – a solicitor in her 40s – on a dating website where the defendant was using the name of Max Hill in order to hide his true
identity and his string of previous convictions for domestic violence both in the UK and Australia.
She said the couple soon moved in together at Porch’s Port Talbot flat and he began promising marriage and talking about children.
However, almost immediately, the defendant became controlling and belittling in his behaviour towards his new partner by criticising her parking abilities, her choice of food, the way she cleaned, and the way she dressed – asking her if she was “a solicitor or soliciting”.
The court heard he would follow his partner when she drove to see her parents and would then ring her every hour to check where she was.
He would also make her wear a towel like a bib when eating, would not allow her to shower or go to the toilet alone, would sulk if she used her phone, and would control what positions she slept in.
Porch, 50, of Tydraw Road, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to coercive or controlling behaviour and to two counts of common assault when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 11 previous convictions for 44 offences including 27 for violence – “almost all” domestic-related in both in the UK and in Australia where he settled after leaving the Army.
With a 25% discount for his guilty pleas Porch was sentenced to two years in prison.
He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
He was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting his former partner.
The judge added that Porch should have been made the subject of a domestic abuse protection order and said he was surprised one had not been applied for.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.