Man Jailed for Holiday Assault that Left Partner ‘Fearing for Life’

A woman’s holiday turned into a nightmare when her partner subjected her to a series of brutal assaults in Gran Canaria, leaving her with visible bruises and living in fear. 😡

John Peebles, 35, from Mariners Walk, has been sentenced to 30 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Newport Crown Court.

The court heard that on July 8 last year, after drinking alcohol to excess, Peebles pushed his partner onto a bed and kicked her leg, causing bruising. Two days later, following more drinking, the victim locked herself in their hotel room, only to wake at 3:45am to find Peebles standing by her bed.

In her victim impact statement, she said: “I could see the anger in his eyes” which was on a “whole different level” and she “feared for her life” as he bit her arm twice.

The victim fled to the hotel reception and asked staff to call police. Despite police intervention, Peebles refused to leave the hotel, leaving her in fear for the remainder of her holiday.

In a separate incident just days before the holiday, Peebles had pushed his partner down stairs and over broken glass, likely causing three fractured ribs.

The victim told the court: “Since the assaults and repeated behaviour from John, I have been struggling to sleep and have triggering nightmares about him. I have the repeated nightmare I have locked-in syndrome and he’s in the room with me and I am unable to move or scream for help.”

Judge Celia Hughes noted: “You caused the victim severe psychological harm. You have not been deterred and the court has given you opportunities to improve. You have sought to minimise your responsibility.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Peebles was made subject to a restraining order and ordered to pay £500 in compensation.