Jealous Pencoed man jailed for strangling partner

A Bridgend man who repeatedly strangled his partner in jealous rages and threatened to “seriously beat you bad” if she called police has been jailed for three years.

Huw Young, 57, of Erw Ifan, Pencoed, subjected his partner to a terrifying campaign of violence after becoming obsessed with messages she received from male friends.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Young first strangled his victim at his Bridgend home in 2024 after throwing her phone across the bedroom and putting his right arm across her throat to restrict her breathing.

Prosecutor Jac Brown told the court that Young became increasingly argumentative about his partner receiving messages from male friends. In a “fit of jealousy”, he took her iPhone and smashed it beyond repair, telling her: “The only way to get to you is to smash your phone up.”

Young later ordered a new phone for his partner but continued his controlling behaviour, repeatedly trying to look at her messages.

Despite being arrested in January and released on conditional bail preventing contact with his partner, the violence escalated in May.

On 16 May, the victim attended Young’s Pencoed home where an argument resulted in him slapping her in the face. He left but returned later that night intoxicated.

Young then placed his right hand around his partner’s throat and began to strangle her, continuing until she began making choking noises.

The following day, 17 May, after visiting a pub together, Young became argumentative again at his home. He threw his partner to the floor and punched her multiple times to the back of her head.

Mr Brown said the victim feared she would be seriously hurt or killed, and suffered swelling to the back of her head.

Young then issued a chilling threat: “If you call the police, I will seriously beat you bad before they get to you,” before fleeing.

The victim called police and Young was arrested. He initially denied the offences but later pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and criminal damage.

The court heard Young has a previous conviction for domestic assault when he grabbed an ex-partner by the neck.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim said: “The incident has completely lowered my confidence and trust in people. I am no longer sure who to trust, Huw gave me all the speeches about how he loved me. The jealousy he displayed towards me made me lose sight of myself. He displayed kindness followed by nastiness. My judge of character has been damaged and I no longer know who to trust.”

Defence barrister Neil Evans said his client had described the relationship as “toxic”. He told the court Young was a man who had “always worked” but after losing his employment, his alcohol intake increased.

Mr Evans said that since being remanded in custody, Young is now free from alcohol and has received counselling.

Judge Carl Harrison sentenced Young to three years imprisonment and made him subject of a restraining order.