SUSSEX MAN JAILED FOR COERCIVE CONTROL AND BRUTAL ASSAULT ON EX-PARTNER
A man named Lee Longdon was convicted and sentenced for severe domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behavior, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and fraud by false representation.His victim, Sue Smith, a mother of two, detailed a harrowing history of abuse and manipulation.
Sue, who had previously enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle, met Longdon in November 2017 after her five-year-old daughter accidentally sent him a message on Snapchat.
Soon after, Longdon moved into her home, and their relationship quickly turned abusive.
Sue recounted that even during the early stages, signs of financial abuse appeared when Longdon would ask for money and manipulate her into giving him cash daily.
Over time, his drug addiction, particularly to crack cocaine, worsened, leading to violent and threatening behaviors.
Sue described being subjected to a four-hour ordeal where Longdon beat her, removed her clothes, and placed a towel in her mouth to strangle her until she lost consciousness.
He also forcibly withdrew £500 using her bank card after the attack.
Longdon’s assault was caught on CCTV footage, showing him punching Sue and fleeing with her bank card, which helped police secure his conviction.
Despite serving a prison sentence of nearly three years, Longdon remains a source of fear for Sue, who expressed ongoing trauma and PTSD.
The victim highlighted that her fear persists even with Longdon behind bars, who was found guilty on March 29, 2022, and sentenced to two years and ten months in prison.
Sue detailed the progression of the abuse, including financial exploitation, physical violence, and manipulation, including him bragging about his interactions with ex-girlfriends and trying to make her feel insecure.
She also mentioned how her relatives had given her an ultimatum to stay with Longdon or face estrangement, and she chose to stay, further complicating her situation.
The abuse culminated in a violent confrontation that resulted in Longdon’s conviction.
Despite incarceration, Sue still lives in fear of him, and her life remains affected by the trauma inflicted during their relationship.
