Violent abuser flushed girlfriend's rabbit down toilet before fleeing to Thailand

A violent abuser who flushed his girlfriend’s pet rabbit down the toilet, then fled to Thailand, has been sent to jail for nearly 10 years.

Nicholas Cash, 26, sobbed in the dock as he was sentenced for subjecting Olivia Croft, who was then 17, to 10 months of abuse.

The Bournemouth, Dorset man locked her in their home, repeatedly shot her with a BB gun, and slashed her in the face with a piece of broken glass.

He also goaded her into taking an overdose before forcing a large number of pills down her throat.

He controlled Ms Croft by monitoring her phone and social media use, and stopped her from wearing makeup.

Ms Croft went to the police after Cash drowned one of her rabbits by flushing it down the toilet.

Cash was due to stand trial in 2022, but claimed that he was too ill to attend court.

Instead, he fled to Thailand with his new partner and newborn baby. A court heard that he later left them for a Thai woman.

Cash was found guilty in his absence of controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and administering a poisonous or noxious substance with intent.

After three years of evading justice, police finally arrested him in Thailand in December 2025 and extradition proceedings began.

He spent nine months in a Thai prison before being brought back to Britain in September.

On Wednesday, Cash appeared from prison via video link at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced.

Ruby Shrimpton, defending, said her client was “frightened” about the prospect of going to jail, which led to his “impulsive” act to flee the country.

She said: "It was the relatively impulsive and some might say cowardly and idiotic act act of a desperate young man who didn't want to deal with the consequences of his actions, but now he does.

"He spent nine months in a Thai prison and he told me that it was hell on earth.

"He said he saw things that no one should have to see.

"It was a living nightmare and he was left traumatised by it."

The defendant wept as he was jailed for eight years for the domestic abuse and a further 16 months for breaching bail conditions and a suspended sentence for offences against another victim.

His Honour Judge Nigel Fuller, said: "It is clear from your actions that by the October of 2022...you had already planned to flee the country to avoid your trial.

"After your conviction considerable resources were deployed to secure your extradition from Thailand and you were removed.

"You evaded the authorities for approaching four years.

"The delay would have resulted in added distress to the complainants and their families."

After the original case, Ms Croft, a carer, said: "The things he did to me were sickening, but I was too scared to leave because I didn't want him to hurt anyone else. He relentlessly abused me, emotionally and physically.

"I had to be strong in the end as I knew it would just get worse and worse.

"When I did finally leave he flushed one of my pet rabbits down the toilet, killing it, that was the last straw for me to go to the police.

"It was really hard going through the trial, being questioned by his lawyer while he was living it up in Thailand.

"I'm still unable to sleep, I have horrific nightmares about him coming to snatch me back. I feel emotionally blunted and numb most of the time.

"I have very serious trust issues and I'm very uncomfortable in social settings.

"Before I was a social and outgoing person, I felt a part of the world I lived in and was comfortable in my own skin. He took all that away from me."

Detective Constable Michael White, of Dorset Police, said: "At the centre of our extensive efforts to locate Nicholas Cash and bring him to justice was the victim of his abusive behaviour.

"We have continued to keep her updated and I hope this case demonstrates that we will do absolutely everything in our power to ensure perpetrators are not able to escape the consequences of their actions.

"We have carried out detailed work to liaise with partner agencies both nationally and abroad, which culminated in Cash being tracked down in Thailand and detained in December last year.

"This was not the end of the matter as we continued our efforts to ensure he was extradited and returned to this country so he could be sentenced for his crimes."

The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men's advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.