A CONTROLLING and jealous boyfriend branded his partner “like an animal” and waterboarded her during a sustained campaign of domestic abuse, a jury was told.

Gareth Thomas is also accused of hitting her so hard that she miscarried a baby and cut the foetus while laughing, prosecutor Harry Baker said.

The 37-year-old ex-soldier, formerly of Newport, also made his alleged victim don boxing gloves and would beat her in “uneven” bouts, the city’s crown court heard.

The prosecution say Thomas, now of Upper Waun Street, Blaenavon, also threw the complainant down the stairs, cut her with a knife and made her do sit-ups and press-ups while throwing food at her.

Further allegations include that the defendant made his now ex-girlfriend sleep on the floor, “interrogated” her about former boyfriends and kicked her using taekwondo moves.

He denies controlling and coercive behaviour, two counts of wounding with intent and five of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Baker told the jury how Thomas had carried out “many instances of gratuitous violence”.

He said that one once occasion: “The defendant told her he was going to brand her like cattle. He heated up a gun that is used in decorating for stripping wallpaper.

“He told her to take her trousers down. He forced the gun on her and caused an agonising burn on her leg.

“The defendant said she should be taught a lesson she should not forget. The prosecution say he branded her like an animal.”

Mr Baker said Thomas had accuse the woman of having sex with someone else in the shower and had “waterboarded her”.

The prosecutor said: “He put a pillow over her head, taped it over her and started pouring water over her.

“She is unsure how long it lasted. He told her, ‘Stop playing your silly games and tell the truth.’

“He then took the pillow off her and made her clean up the water.”

On another occasion, Mr Baker said: “The defendant made her wear boxing gloves and made her fight him in an unequal contest.”

The court was told that Thomas, defended by his barrister Nigel Fryer, denies the allegations made against him and that he was “shocked” by them.

Mr Baker said the defendant has said he wasn’t “jealous” and had remarked that the accusations were “ridiculous”.

Proceeding.