Manipulative Abuser Sentenced for Coercive Control and Violence
A 27-year-old man described as highly manipulative has been sentenced to a significant prison term for a campaign of abuse against his ex-girlfriend, which included strangulation and false imprisonment. Tracy Hercules, of no fixed abode, was found guilty by a jury following a trial in September.
A Terrifying Ordeal in Radford
The court heard how the offences took place between July 2023 and November 2024. The abuse escalated one day when the victim asked Hercules to leave her home in the Radford area of Nottingham because she wanted to go out. This request sparked an argument during which Hercules strangled her and refused to let her leave, effectively imprisoning her in her own home.
The attack was so severe that the victim required hospital treatment. It was after this incident that she found the courage to reveal the full extent of what she had endured to the police.
A Campaign of Coercion and Threats
Hercules's abusive behaviour was not limited to physical violence. He engaged in a sustained period of controlling and coercive behaviour, which included:
- Threatening to share intimate images of the victim, a crime often referred to as revenge porn.
- 'Incessantly' calling and messaging both the victim and her relatives.
- Damaging the victim's property.
- Threatening to commit suicide while blaming the victim for his emotional state.
Detective Constable Martine Smith of Nottinghamshire Police stated that Hercules showed no remorse for his actions and forced the woman to relive her trauma during a Crown Court trial by denying the offences.
Justice Served and a Message of Support
On Thursday, November 20, Hercules was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court. He received a total of four and a half years in prison, with an extended licence period of two years.
DC Smith praised the victim's bravery throughout the investigation and court proceedings. She noted that the woman, who had previously described herself as confident and bubbly, had suffered a profound impact from Hercules's crimes.
The police used this case to send a clear message to other victims. DC Smith added, "We will not tolerate violence against women and girls... If you or anyone else is in danger, please call 999 immediately." She also encouraged anyone suffering in silence to come forward, assuring them they will be listened to, helped, and kept safe.
