A Wood Farm man has admitted controlling his then partner.

Darren Moss, 51, had been due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court this week accused of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his then partner between 2013 and 2019.

But at the doors of the court on Monday, Moss, of Chillingworth Crescent, Oxford, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Steven Molloy asked the judge, Michael Gledhill KC, for approval to change the start date in the charge from 2013 to 2015. The law making coercive behaviour a criminal offence did not come into force until seven years ago.

Judge Gledhill bailed the defendant to return to court for sentence on December 1. Although he ordered a pre-sentence report, the judge warned that he was giving ‘no indication’ as to the likelihood of Moss receiving a non-custodial sentence.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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