MAN PUNCHED GIRLFRIEND REPEATEDLY AND BIT HER
A man was accused of physically attacking his girlfriend in her own residence, demonstrating a pattern of repeated violence.According to police reports, Leigh Williams may have been attempting to force entry into his own property in Neath during the early hours of November 29 last year, possibly due to his intoxicated condition.
Concerned for his safety, authorities took Williams to his then-girlfriend Rachel Jones's home, where he stayed overnight.
The following morning at around 6am, Miss Jones awoke to prepare for work and, upon waking Williams, decided to give him a lift home.
However, the 29-year-old became visibly annoyed and upset, insisting he would take the bus instead.
He then grabbed Miss Jones by the neck with both hands, demanding she reveal the location of his belongings and threatening to leave if she complied.
His anger escalated, and he punched her in the face multiple times, hitting her six or seven times on both the side of the face and her mouth, as outlined by court records.
Miss Jones retreated to their bedroom and closed the door to escape, but Williams followed her.
Upon realizing he had no money and searching through his jacket, he again seized her, pushing her onto the bed before jumping on top of her and biting her right upper arm.
She managed to free herself from his grip, during which Williams noticed he was bleeding from his eyebrow while looking in a mirror.
He then grabbed the mirror and threw it at her, striking her forehead and causing it to shatter on the floor.
Attempting to summon help, Miss Jones tried calling the police multiple times.
When Williams saw her phone, he attempted to seize it, damaging the screen in the process.
He then insisted she take him home because he lacked shoes and money.
Williams pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
As a result of the assault, Miss Jones sustained bruising around her right eye, swelling on her forehead, and a bruised lip.
Prosecutor Gareth Waite described the incident as a sustained and repeated assault.
Later, Miss Jones sent photographs of her injuries via Facebook Messenger, to which Williams responded with an apology, stating he was "so sorry." He was later detained, but during police questioning, he did not respond to inquiries.
"There is a degree of inevitability but that is not seeking to justify his appalling behaviour to his partner." Sentencing Williams, Judge Keith Thomas said: "You took alcohol and drugs in excess and got yourself in such a state you were unable to get into your own home.
Your former girlfriend took pity on you by allowing you to stay at her home and you repaid her by assaulting her." Williams was sentenced to a 16-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
He must complete a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and take part in a Building Better Relationships programme.
He must also pay £200 compensation to Miss Jones and a five-year restraining order has been made stopping him from contacting her directly or indirectly.
Williams must also pay a £149 surcharge.
