Man jailed for strangling ex in home invasion attack

A 49-year-old man has been jailed for three years after breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s Cwmbran home and strangling her whilst threatening to kill her. 😱

Cardiff Crown Court heard that David Thomas burst into his ex-partner’s bedroom on 23rd May whilst she was on the phone to the electric company, following an earlier break-in where he had stolen her keys.

Thomas set upon his victim, strangling her and sitting on her so she couldn’t escape. As he attacked her, he told her to “be quiet” and said: “I’m going to kill you now.”

The assault left the victim’s throat so sore it hurt to talk. In a statement read to court, she described herself as “a nervous wreck” following the attack, adding: “I don’t feel safe anywhere.”

“I’ve never seen him like that,” she said. “It was scary.”

The attack was interrupted when Thomas heard the electric company employee on the phone. The victim called out for them to call the police, causing Thomas to panic and attempt to stamp on the phone before fleeing.

Thomas, of Redbrook Way in Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to burglary, strangulation, and making threats to kill. The court heard he had seven previous convictions for nine offences, including violent and threatening behaviour.

Defence barrister Alice Sykes said Thomas was “realistic about his position” and remorseful about the incident. She explained he had been declared unfit to work around 15 years ago due to mental health issues, which had led to alcoholism, though he was seeking help from the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service.

Judge Daniel Williams said: “She was petrified. She thought she was going to die.”

Thomas was sentenced to three years imprisonment and the victim was granted an eight-year restraining order. ⚖️