Chester Man Jailed for Brutal Attack on Girlfriend

A Chester man has been jailed for 14 months after a violent drunken assault left his then-girlfriend with her face “covered in blood”.

Nial Ferry, 23, of Northgate Street, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday after previously admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assaulting police officers.

The court heard police were called to Davies Court, Wrexham, on May 21 after a woman was heard “screaming and shouting” from inside a property. She was heard screaming “get off me” and “leave me alone.”

When officers forced entry, they found Ferry and victim Harley Fowles in the bedroom. Miss Fowles’ face was “covered in blood” and Ferry had blood on his hands, with blood stains on the kitchen floor and splatter on the fridge.

The attack began when Ferry became aggressive during a phone call, grabbing Miss Fowles by the hair. When she tried to leave, he took her phone and threatened to drown her. Ferry then grabbed her shoe and hit her in the face with force.

Miss Fowles told the court: “I recalled my nose ‘popped’ and at that point I began screaming as I felt like I was going to get killed.”

In her victim statement, Miss Fowles said she was “scared for my life” and thought she was going to die during the incident.

Ferry, who became “agitated” during arrest and kicked out at police whilst hurling homophobic slurs, was also subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the offence.

Defence barrister Euros Jones said Ferry was “genuinely remorseful” and “disgusted” over his actions, with alcohol having “taken over his life”.

Judge Nicola Saffman sentenced Ferry to 14 months imprisonment and imposed a restraining order protecting Miss Fowles.