Man jailed for sharing intimate images and violent abuse

A Rhondda man has been imprisoned for three years after subjecting his former partner to a campaign of violence and humiliation that included sharing her private sexual photographs on social media.

Thomas Llewellyn, 30, of Holyrood Terrace, Llwynpia, Tonypandy, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court where he admitted sharing private sexual images and harassing his victim, placing her in fear of violence.

Prosecutor Sali Harmes told the court that Llewellyn had developed significant problems with drugs and alcohol, during which time he subjected his victim to “considerable violence” including punching and strangling her.

The court heard how on one occasion he deliberately covered the woman’s mouth and nose, triggering a panic attack. He also held a knife up to her whilst telling her: “You don’t want to know the thoughts I have.”

Ms Harmes described how Llewellyn bombarded his victim with a “large volume” of abusive messages and voicemails. In one particularly vicious message, he called her a “fat, useless slob” and “f***ing disgusting” before adding: “If I could rip out your throat I would.”

The abuse took such a toll on the woman that she once had to call in sick to work because she couldn’t stop crying after receiving his messages.

In what the judge would later describe as the most serious aspect of his offending, Llewellyn shared nude photographs of his victim on his public Snapchat story. He was arrested in March 2023.

Defence barrister David Pinnell told the court that time had moved on “considerably” since the offending, arguing that his client had matured and was no longer dependent on any intoxicants.

Llewellyn has one previous conviction for an unrelated offence. He pleaded guilty to sharing private sexual images at the first opportunity and admitted the harassment charge on the day of trial.

Sentencing him, Judge Vanessa Francis said: “You were abusive to her in a multitude of different ways.”

She added: “You then shared private sexual images of her far and wide, it was the most utterly reprehensible thing to do.”

Judge Francis explained she had “thought carefully” about whether to reduce the sentence further or suspend it given the time that had passed since the offending, but concluded the abuse had continued for too long to justify a suspended sentence.

Llewellyn will serve up to half of the three-year sentence in custody before being released on licence.