A Barry man who punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and then pressured her to convince police to drop the charges has been jailed for 18 months. ⚖️
Dylan Selby, 27, of Court Road, Barry, attacked his former partner at his mother’s home in the early hours of March 16 after an argument escalated. Cardiff Crown Court heard that whilst the victim was sitting on his bed, Selby punched her in the face, connecting with her left eye, causing significant bruising, swelling and bleeding.
Following the assault, prosecutor Pamela Kaiga said the defendant began to panic and placed a ligature around his neck, which the victim removed before leaving the address.
After his arrest on March 17, police examined Selby’s phone and discovered messages he had sent to his victim. Prior to his arrest, he messaged her: “You better beg the police to drop it, get on to them and don’t stop ringing them when I get locked up tomorrow. Don’t stop ringing them please.”
The victim responded, saying “I have, all day.”
Selby then suggested she tell police she had assaulted him first, adding “You wouldn’t get arrested.” He went on to call the victim “an idiot” and said he would “see her in a year” and not to speak to him, before asking her to have an existing restraining order removed so she could visit him.
Selby pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intimidating a witness. The court heard he has previous convictions for multiple offences including battery, assaulting emergency workers, affray and violent offences against the same victim.
In mitigation, William Bebb said his client has “genuine remorse and contrition” and said the defendant, who has a daughter, is “disgusted” by his behaviour. He added that Selby had been honest about his misuse of alcohol and cocaine and has a willingness to address his issues.
Sentencing Judge Paul Hobson said: “This was an unpleasant and no doubt very painful injury you caused to her… She did not deserve to be treated like that and she deserve to live her life without being a your punchbag.”
Selby was also made subject to a restraining order for three years. 🔒
