Ex-Police Officer Jailed for Terrorising Girlfriends

A former Gwent Police firearms officer has been sentenced to prison after sending threatening messages to two women he was dating simultaneously.

Jonathan Jefferies, 54, from Cwmbran, was jailed for three years and two months at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting to two counts of controlling/coercive behaviour between January 2022 and November 2023.

The court heard Jefferies wanted “total control and domination” over the two women and boasted he was “untouchable”.

Prosecutor Pamela Kaiga told Cardiff Crown Court that Jefferies was described as “jealous and controlling”. With one victim, he showed her a gun during a FaceTime call and placed a tracker inside her car. With the other, he cloned her phone to access her pictures and messages, and threatened to send intimate images to her parents.

In one disturbing incident, he pushed one of the women to the floor and kicked her all over her body before later sending flowers and claiming he loved her.

When the relationships ended after both women discovered his infidelity, Jefferies made sinister threats. He messaged one victim: “Go f*** yourself and die quietly – which may be sooner than you think. I will ruin your life, because that’s what I could do. You’ve cancelled Netflix and I’m going to cancel you.”

In her victim impact statement, one woman revealed: “I have crushing anxiety and panic attacks and also severe depression. I rarely leave the house as I don’t trust anyone. He said he would ruin my life and ultimately take my life. I was in fear for my life and that’s exactly what he intended. I can’t believe anyone again. All I did was love and support him and what I received in return was despicable.”

The other victim stated: “You have changed my life for the worst. I feel mentally shattered. I’m a shadow of my former self.”

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, told Jefferies: “Your behaviour has had a significant and lasting adverse effect on the victims. You used conduct to maximise fear and distress.” She added: “In the pre-sentence report, you have shown no remorse or insight into your offending. You committed these offences in order to have total control and domination over your victims.”

Jefferies was also made subject to 15-year restraining orders prohibiting contact with his victims.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Michael Coles, the Gwent Police officer in the case, said: “The victims who bravely came forward in this case have helped to put a man who poses a danger to women, but also the public, behind bars. We recognise the significant impact that these types of offences have on victims and our communities. I would urge anyone who believes they are a victim of these crimes to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously and treated with compassion and respect.”