Transgender police worker, 35, who terrorised his female ex-partner by interrogating her over seeing friends and accusing her of sleeping with taxi drivers is banned from contacting her until 2031
- Nicholas Melville, formerly known as Nicola, admitted controlling and coercive behaviour at Caernarfon Crown Court which heard he was ‘obsessively jealous’
- Melville bombarded ex with emails and accused her of sleeping with other men
- Victim says his behaviour left her in fear, caused a loss of trust and led to anxiety
A former police worker who became ‘obsessively jealous’ of his ex-partner while he underwent sex change therapy has been banned from seeing her for 10 years.
Nicholas Melville, 35, sought emotional support from his mother as he was transitioning from female to male but when that failed his behaviour became abusive towards his partner, Caroline Worsfold.
Melville pleaded guilty to using controlling and coercive behaviour against Ms Worsfold, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
Melville, who was formerly called Nicola when their relationship began, would bombard her with emails and even accuse her of sleeping with the taxi driver if she went on a night out.
Today, a judge banned Melville from seeing Ms Worsfold for 10 years and gave him a two-year community order.
Prosecutor Simon Mintz said Melville, a former Merseyside police force employee, had been in a two and a half year relationship with Ms Worsfold, 37, of Buckley, until December 2018.
Ex-police worker Nicholas Melville is banned from contacting his ex-partner for 10 years at Caernarfon Crown Court (pictured) after admitting coercive and controlling behaviour
But he showed controlling behaviour from the early days.
Mr Mintz said Melville would ‘interrogate’ Ms Worsfold about seeing her friends and became ‘furious’ when she went on a night out, accusing her of sleeping with the taxi driver.
The court heard Melville caused problems on a camping trip to France where friends described Ms Worsfold as ‘withdrawn’.
Ms Worsfold was working at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and also going to university to study for a nursing degree.
The prosecutor said that when Melville bought her a car it would have been seen as a ‘generous gesture’ but he would use it as his own and take the keys.
He said she felt ‘in fear’, adding: ‘Her fear was he would approach from fields at the rear of her home.’
Ms Worsfold suffered recurring nightmares, anxiety and carried a personal attack alarm, the court heard.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Worsfold said Melville’s behaviour left her in fear, caused a general loss of trust and led to anxiety.
His victim Caroline Worsfold said in a victim impact statement read to the court that Melville’s behaviour left her in fear, caused a general loss of trust and led to anxiety (stock image)
Sion ap Mihangel, defending, called it ‘a sad case for all concerned’ and ‘not a typical’ one.
He said Melville had had to pay privately for his ‘treatment’ abroad and when he returned to the UK there was no support.
Mr ap Mihangel said: ‘He does not have close family contacts. He does not speak to his mother.
‘The reaction he expected once he had gone through the operation was not what he expected.
‘Then things spiralled and he was clutching at someone who did not feel the same.’
Melville is still self-medicating with testosterone.
‘He’s still going through the process. There’s another operation he has to go through,’ said his barrister.
But, after a long career in the police force, he has a new job with a different employer.
The judge Her Honour Judge Nicola Jones pointed out that Melville had denied using controlling and coercive behaviour at first. He even ‘turned the tables’ and accused his victim of such actions.
In fact, the judge said he had caused his victim ‘serious alarm or distress’.
But he eventually admitted the charge which spared Ms Worsfold the need to go through the intimacies of their relationship at a trial.
He had served his community in the police force and had had an ‘exemplary character’.
The judge ordered Melville, now of Rainford, St Helens, to do 30 days of rehabilitation activity to build his ’emotional resilience’.
She also imposed a 10-year restraining order banning Melville from contacting or approaching Ms Worsfold directly or indirectly, including on social media.
He is also banned from visiting an address in Buckley or the Wrexham Maelor Hospital unless it’s to the Accident & Emergency Department for a medical reason.
Finally, the judge told Melville: ‘Put this relationship behind you.’
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