Ben McCandlish, 21, from Hillside, Brighton, appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on October 3 and pleaded not guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm, threatening a person with a bladed article in a private place, and intentional strangulation.
The allegations are said to have happened between March 2025 and February 2026.
Ms Tschiderer, prosecuting, said that McCandlish and the complainant had met online in March 2025 and begun an intimate but non-exclusive relationship when the incidents then happened.
Both the prosecution and defence, Ms Walker, said the case should be heard in a crown court.
Ms Porter, the Magistrate, told McCandlish: “We feel this case needs to go to Lewes Crown Court.”
Ms Porter told McCandlish, who was wearing a white shirt to court, that his next appearance would be before the crown court on December 1 for a plea, trial and preparation hearing.
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