Marley Burgess (Image: South Wales Police)
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A man who subjected his partner to a campaign of violent abuse – including biting her, punching her repeatedly, and throwing a knife at her – has been jailed for 17 months.
Marley Burgess, 26, from Cardiff, began a relationship with his victim in 2024 after meeting on social media and soon moved into her home. Newport Crown Court heard on Monday how the relationship quickly turned abusive, with Burgess regularly slapping and punching his partner.
The assaults
The victim suffered black eyes, bruises, and cuts to her arms and hands throughout the relationship. Burgess also repeatedly destroyed her mobile phones by snatching them and hurling them against walls or the floor, causing around £300 worth of damage.
During one incident, the victim placed Burgess in a headlock while trying to get her phone back. He responded by biting her thumb and arm before pushing her into the bath, where she hit her head on a glass shower panel. Despite suffering a cut, Burgess refused to let her go to hospital.
“I’m going to stab you”
In July the couple argued and Burgess struck the victim to the head and face multiple times. She asked him to stop but he refused to listen, prosecutor Anisha Rai said. As the victim lay face down on the floor, she felt something heavy hit the back of her head which she believed was a PlayStation. Burgess then punched a hole in the wall.
On January 27 this year, Burgess entered the victim’s home while she was on the phone to a friend and repeatedly hit her to the head. She tried to protect herself and told him to get off her but he continued to strike her, leaving her with bumps.
The victim fled to the garden and asked Burgess to leave but he refused, telling her: “If you don’t come into the house I’m going to smash your phone.”
Her friend arrived and joined her in the garden, telling Burgess to leave and that police had been called. This enraged Burgess, who went into the kitchen and returned with a knife, saying: “I’m going to stab you.” He then threw the knife at his partner and her friend.
After leaving, further damage was discovered to the victim’s television and an outdoor umbrella stand.
Sentencing
Burgess, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to affray, three counts of battery, six counts of damaging property, and one count of destroying property. The court heard he has five previous convictions including criminal damage, and the latest offences put him in breach of a community order.
In mitigation, Tim Naylor said his client had adverse childhood experiences, had spent time living homeless after being kicked out of his home, and was addicted to drugs.
Telling the defendant to take his hands out of his pockets, Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: “You should be thoroughly ashamed of the way you behaved in that relationship.”
Burgess was sentenced to a total of 17 months imprisonment.
