Caerphilly Man Jailed for Violent Domestic Assault

A Caerphilly man has been sentenced to 17 months in custody after violently attacking his partner when she refused to have sex with him. 👮‍♂️⚖️

Samuel Roberts, 41, of Bedwas Road, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday where he was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and strangulation.

The court heard that Roberts, who has 33 previous convictions for 77 offences, inflicted multiple injuries to his then-partner’s lip, eye, head and bicep during the attack last year.

Following the assault, Roberts instructed the victim to lie to police about how she sustained her injuries. However, she bravely reported the truth to South Wales Police, leading to his arrest and subsequent guilty plea.

Prosecuting barrister Paul Hewitt told the court that Roberts’ criminal record showed “a history of domestic violence” including GBH, affray, assault of a former partner, and breaches of restraining orders.

In her victim impact statement, the woman expressed relief at the positive changes in her life while Roberts has been remanded in custody: “I am now anxious about him being released from prison. My concern now is what happens when he comes out. I know he has no respect for court bail conditions. I have now taken steps to remove myself and my daughter to a location unknown to him. But I’ve no doubt at some point he’ll find out where we are and that fills me with dread.”

Defence counsel Ed Mitchard acknowledged there was little mitigation available given Roberts’ extensive similar convictions, but noted his client was born in custody while his mother was on remand in the 1980s.

During sentencing, Judge Eugene Egan told Roberts: “You violently assaulted your then partner. You intimidated her, you bullied her, you abused her physically and terrified her.”

In addition to the prison sentence, a 10-year restraining order was imposed, preventing Roberts from approaching the victim or her mother and son.