Man Jailed for Strangling Ex After Christmas Money Row

A thug who strangled his ex-girlfriend in the street after sending her too much money for Christmas has been jailed.

Joseph Ashman, 36, assaulted the woman in Risca at around 9.30am whilst she was on her way to work. The defendant “lost his temper” and pushed her against a car, bit her arm and hit her in the face as well as strangling her.

She was left “unable to breathe” during the attack, Cardiff Crown Court was told. 😰

Ashman and his former partner had been in a “volatile relationship” which had produced two children. After sending them more cash than he had intended to last Christmas, he assaulted the woman rather than asking for some of the money back.

The victim described how their relationship had been marred by the defendant’s drinking and drug taking.

Ashman, of High Street, Cross Keys, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has 26 previous convictions for 59 offences and was previously locked up for battery in 2009.

Judge Lucy Crowther told him: “The two of you had been in a relationship for many years and it’s clear that it was a volatile one. Your victim described it as being very good when you were sober and in work.”

The relationship was “very bad” when Ashman was “using alcohol and taking drugs”.

Judge Crowther added: “At around 9.30am on the day of the assault, you lost your temper. You pushed your victim against a car and started strangling her – she was left struggling to breathe. It was a short-lived incident but it caused her some distress. You also bit her arm and hit her in the face. That wasn’t the end of the matter because some hours later, you were abusive and kicked her front door.”

Ashman was jailed for 45 weeks which means he will be released immediately due to time already served on remand. He was made the subject of a five-year restraining order and has to pay a victim surcharge.