Key keywords: Powys man, stalking charges, non-fatal strangulation offence, controlling and coercive behaviour, Cardiff Crown Court, Dyfed-Powys Police, domestic abuse allegations, Welsh criminal justice A 34-year-old man from Brecon, Powys, has entered formal not guilty pleas to three separate domestic abuse-related charges during his first appearance at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday. The three counts include one charge of stalking involving fear of violence against his former female partner, alleged to have taken place between January 2022 and October 2023; one count of non-fatal strangulation, an offence explicitly introduced under the UK’s 2021 Domestic Abuse Act, said to have occurred during a confrontation at the victim’s rural Powys home in July 2023; and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship, covering allegations he restricted the victim’s contact with friends and family, monitored her personal phone and social media usage, and controlled access to her independent bank account over the 22-month period. Dyfed-Powys Police launched a full investigation into the claims last November, after the victim approached a local domestic abuse support service to report the alleged offences. Prosecutors told the court during the hearing that they have compiled more than 40 pieces of supporting evidence, including signed witness statements from 12 third-party witnesses, 18 months of phone and social media communication records, and medical reports documenting visible neck injuries the victim says she sustained during the alleged strangulation incident. The defendant has been granted conditional bail ahead of his full jury trial, which is scheduled to begin on 12 February 2024. His bail conditions include a strict prohibition on contacting the victim, any listed witnesses, or entering the village where the victim currently resides. Presiding judge Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke warned the defendant that any breach of his bail terms would result in immediate arrest and remand in custody. Local domestic abuse charity Powys Domestic Abuse Support Service released a statement following the hearing noting that non-fatal strangulation is one of the highest risk indicators for eventual intimate partner homicide, and encouraged anyone experiencing similar abusive behaviour to reach out to support services or police immediately. The Dyfed-Powys Police domestic abuse unit added that they take all allegations of stalking, violent domestic offences and controlling behaviour extremely seriously, and will continue to provide dedicated support to the victim throughout the trial process.