ROYAL Marine Jayden Deakin has been jailed for physically and psychologically abusing his former partner.

The 26-year-old, of Norton Fitzwarren, was sentenced to 26 months behind bars after being found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour by a jury in August.

During the trial, the court heard he belittled, threatened and assaulted his former partner over a number of years.

He was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on Thursday (October 30), with the judge describing him as a “coward” and a “bully” after the court heard he would belittle the victim and assault her, to the point she was worried he would kill her.

His offending was reported to police in November 2022 and he was arrested the following month. He was later charged following an investigation.

At Taunton Crown Court, sitting at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court in August, he was found unanimously guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour by a jury. He was found not guilty of two counts of rape.

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Ahead of his sentencing, the victim, herself a serving member of the Royal Navy, said she continues to be affected by the trauma caused by his behaviour.

“Even though the relationship has now been over for almost three years, I still have to live with this trauma for the rest of my life and I’ve still got the scars on my hand and my arm that I have to look at every single day, they’re not going anywhere,” a statement read to the court said.

“I want him to understand that it’s not ok to behave in this way and to bully people. I want him to know that this behaviour is wrong and that I’m doing all of this to hopefully prevent him putting anyone else through the same trauma that I’ve had to go through.

“The life I lived when I was with him was not a life worth living.”

Sentencing Deakin, the judge said: “Your behaviour was of a coward; as a bully.

“This was persistent action over a prolonged period. This went on for years and got worse over the years.”

As well as the 26-month prison sentence, the judge also put restraining orders in place to protect the victim and her mother from Deakin.

After the hearing, DC Eve Tomkinson, the investigating officer, said: “Domestic abuse affects people from all walks of life, and can be perpetrated by those appearing to the outside world as respected and in positions of responsibility, whilst behaving very differently behind closed doors.

“The victim in this case demonstrated extraordinary courage in speaking out. It’s a testament to her bravery and strength that a unanimous guilty verdict was reached.”

A Royal Navy spokesperson added: “Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces and we are committed to rooting out misconduct wherever we find it.

“We commend the bravery of the victim for reporting criminal behaviour which falls well below the high standards of the Royal Navy.

“Anyone who is found to have demonstrated behaviour which breaches our high standards can expect to face subsequent action, which for legal reasons remains a private matter.”

Anyone experiencing abusive behaviour should report it to police on 101, or online at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/domestic-abuse. They can also call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.