Neil Owen (Image: South Wales Police)
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A man who broke his wife’s back by shoving her into a kitchen counter – then mocked her as she lay on the floor unable to move – has been sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court.
Neil Owen, 47, of Mill Street, Pontypridd, was handed an 18-month prison term by Recorder Andrew Hammond after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault by beating. He was also made subject to a 10-year restraining order.
The assault
The court heard Owen and his wife had been together for 15 years before their relationship broke down in 2025 as a result of his infidelity.
On September 2 last year, after the couple had separated, Owen went to the victim’s home to collect some belongings. An argument broke out in the kitchen over his unfaithfulness, and she told him she’d “had enough” before pushing him towards the door and telling him to “f*** off”.
Owen pushed her back and spat at her. She spat back. After she managed to force him out of the house and tried to close the door, he shoved her with force into the kitchen counter.
She struck her back and fell to the ground, immediately feeling winded. A neighbour who heard the disturbance entered the property and told Owen to leave.
As the victim lay on the floor, the defendant told her: “Get up off the floor you f****** p***y.”
Two days later, she attended the Royal Glamorgan Hospital where medical staff discovered she had sustained a fracture to her spine.
Earlier violence
The September incident was not the first time Owen had been violent towards his wife. During a previous argument on an unspecified date, he had thrown her to the floor and kicked her repeatedly to the bottom, leaving a large area of bruising.
On Christmas Eve 2024, an inappropriate comment made by Owen during a sexual encounter caused his wife to stop and tell him she was unhappy with how he was speaking to her. He became angry, kicked her in the leg, and punched her in the arm, causing further bruising.
Victim’s statement
Prosecutor Bethan Evans read a victim personal statement to the court in which the victim described the lasting impact of the spinal injury.
She said: “Since my injury as a result of the assault I have been in physical pain and have been unable to carry out daily tasks for months.
“I’ve had to rely on family and friends to do basic jobs such as putting washing on, changing beds, or cleaning. I have been attending regular physiotherapy appointments and have ongoing pain and discomfort daily.
“I am able to drive now but not for long distances and some days I am unable to drive at all…
“The injury has affected my mental health, which has been extremely distressing and has caused so much anxiety.
“I have attempted to return to work but sitting for long periods makes me question whether I’ll be able to return to work full time or stay in employment.
“I am unable to sleep comfortably due to discomfort and I still have to take pain medication when I am not working or driving.
“I am shocked someone I loved for nearly 16 years could do this.”
Mitigation and sentence
Defence barrister Thomas Stanway told the court Owen had no previous convictions and that his behaviour was “out of character.” He said the defendant had struggled following the death of his father from dementia.
Stanway added that Owen, a GE Aerospace employee, had been held on remand since September last year and had already served the equivalent of an 18-month sentence. He is now in a new relationship and will live with his mother upon release.
Recorder Hammond sentenced Owen to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment.
