Man poured petrol over home before headbutting ex-partner

A Swansea man who poured petrol over his family home and tried to ignite it before headbutting his former partner in the face has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Lee Bromfield arrived at the property in Swansea on September 13 this year and began banging on the back door, shouting: “Watch what I do now. I’ll do us all in.”

Swansea Crown Court heard the 38-year-old then poured petrol from a jerry can over the door, back garden, and an outdoor hot tub before attempting – but failing – to light a cigarette lighter.

When his ex-partner went outside to try to calm him down, Bromfield headbutted her more than once to the face in a lane behind the house, leaving her with a black eye. The woman ran back inside and hid in a bedroom with her son.

Police found Bromfield at the scene smelling of alcohol. He admitted driving to the property in his van and a breathalyser test revealed he had 62mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – almost twice the legal limit of 35mg.

When told the reading, Bromfield told officers: “Not bad for three bottles of vodka and a bottle of wine.”

In a victim statement read to the court, the woman said she had been left “deeply traumatised” by the events, adding: “I never thought a person I once loved would harm me and my son this way.”

Bromfield, of Glasbrook Place, Ravenhill, Swansea, pleaded guilty to affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and drink-driving. He was initially charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life, but the prosecution offered no evidence for that charge.

The court heard Bromfield has six previous convictions for eight offences, all fairly dated, with the last being for shoplifting in 2016.

Defence barrister Harry Dickens said the behaviour was out of character for his client, who was “disgusted” at his actions and realises he has “jeopardised” a great deal. He added that Bromfield acknowledged “cocaine has caused him no end of problems in his life”.

Judge Huw Rees told Bromfield he had acted “unforgivably” in headbutting his victim, saying that when a man assaults a woman he not only demeans her as a woman but demeans himself as a man.

Bromfield was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation course, an accredited programme, and a rehabilitation course. He was banned from driving for 18 months and made subject to a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-partner.