He heaped attention and affection on his victims before turning on them
Joshua Kelly(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
A relentless abuser who subjected seven women to a ‘reign of terror’ while in relationships with them has been jailed.
Joshua Kelly, 23, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour towards all seven women, who are aged between 20 and 24, while he was in ‘overlapping’ relationships with them between 2020 and 2025.
Officer in the case Matilda Dowsing said Kelly had initially befriended his victims using behaviour described as ‘love bombing’ before turning aggressive and controlling within weeks.
Love bombing is the act of heaping attention and affection on someone in an act of manipulation.
Kelly, whose last address was in Staple Hill, moved himself into his victims’ homes and tried to control their moves by accusing them of being unfaithful and limiting their social time.
He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, June 27 to four years and eight months in prison.
Kelly was also handed a 10-year restraining order.
DC Dowsing said: “Kelly has been sentenced after subjecting not just one victim, but seven victims, to a domestic reign of terror. “He constantly accused them of being unfaithful, when in fact it was him who was juggling relationships with the women. “He has systematically controlled each of his victims and played one off against another.
“His victims have told us about how he has affected their lives, and some feel they will not be able to trust people again. “I am grateful for the seven victims for coming forward and I hope they are proud that their courage to report what happened has led to Kelly being jailed; however, this conviction will never undo the trauma that he has caused. “Controlling behaviour can be quite hard to measure, but that is the fundamental part – domestic abuse is about power.
“There is a role to play for many people, and we are trying to encourage people to be able to identify the signs.”