“IT was a lengthy, toxic, destructive, manipulative, and abusive relationship,” a prosecutor has said while opening a trial of a man accused of abuse.

Lisa Wilding KC was speaking at the trial of Oltian Bica at Oxford Crown on Monday (December 11).

The 32-year-old faces 11 charges ranging from assault occasioning actual bodily harm to sexual assault which allegedly occurred across 12 months against a former partner.

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He has been accused of holding a knife to the woman’s stomach, spitting at her, calling her a w****, checking her phone, forcing her to buy expensive items.

“He abused [her] physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Ms Wilding.

“Over the course [of a year], this defendant began a course of conduct towards [her] that involved being subjected to a campaign of emotional and psychological bullying and humiliation, of verbal and physical aggression.

“Despite his appalling behaviour, [the complainant] would time and time again accept his apologies and return to him.

“She was, in her own words, addicted to him.”

Bica, of Westminster Way, Banbury, has been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour of a former partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as five counts of assault, two of criminal damage, one of a threat to kill, one of sexual assault and one of threatening to disclose a private sexual film.

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The court that the woman has been described as previously being an ‘outgoing and capable’ individual but has now become ‘teary, anxious, nervous, and withdrawn’ following her relationship with Bica.

Taking the jury through each charge, Ms Wilding gave examples of the alleged abuse the woman suffered at the hands of Bica.

The court heard Bica had allegedly grabbed the woman’s arm, dragged her across the venue, pulled her hair and pinched her legs at a nightclub called Zinc in Banbury High Street.

A security guard described the woman as being ‘really scared’ and ‘crying’, while describing Bica as ‘being intimidating’.

On another occasion, Bica allegedly held a knife up to her stomach and threatened to kill her and ‘cut her open’.

The woman was reportedly ‘terrified’.

The charge of sexual assault came after Bica allegedly pushed the woman face down on the stairs and said: “This is the only way someone would have sex with you, so they can’t see your face,” before he had thrown her on the sofa and tried to put his hands under her clothes.

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Bica, who was arrested in November last year, denies all the charges.

The trial continues.