Boyfriend jailed for strangling partner in Cardiff home

A violent boyfriend who strangled his partner after she told his mother he had attended a police station has been jailed.

Aiden Ford, 30, attacked his victim at his mother’s home in Cardiff on September 11 after the couple had been drinking and taking cocaine. An argument erupted when the victim mentioned to Ford’s mother that he had been to a police station earlier that day.

Newport Crown Court heard Ford began shouting at the victim to get out of the house and when she refused, he grabbed her by the arm and squeezed until it caused a bruise. He then attempted to push her out but she managed to escape and ran to the bathroom to call 999.

Ford kicked down the bathroom door and took her phone away, though she had managed to text her mother. The defendant then placed both hands around her neck and squeezed to the point she could not breathe. The victim thought she was going to die and only managed to free herself by digging her nails into his hand.

Ford also smashed a vase, a cup and a glass belonging to his mother during the incident.

In a victim personal statement, she said: “Since the incident I am not sleeping properly and have found it hard to switch off. I have bad dreams about the incident. I feel anxious, nervous and have no motivation to do anything. I have been drinking alcohol to block it all out…. If I saw (Ford) now I’d be scared. I’m scared of him coming out of prison.”

Ford, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault by beating and criminal damage. The court heard he has 35 previous convictions.

In mitigation, the court heard Ford has been an alcoholic for more than five years, is homeless and was diagnosed with autism and ADHD.

Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant sentenced Ford to 122 weeks imprisonment – equivalent to two years and four months – and made him subject to a restraining order for seven years.