Milford Haven man jailed for strangling girlfriend

A Milford Haven man has been jailed after subjecting his girlfriend to a terrifying attack that saw him place her in a chokehold before smashing a bong over her head.

Timothy John, 38, of Howarth Close, strangled, punched and kicked the woman during a violent assault that erupted after the couple argued about his drug-taking.

Swansea Crown Court heard how John held his victim’s throat for around 10 seconds, leaving her struggling to breathe and fearing she would lose consciousness.

Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court: “He held her throat for around 10 seconds or so. The defendant strangled the victim and she struggled to breathe. She thought she was going to lose consciousness. He placed in a chokehold before he smashed a bong over her head. The victim was still in her underwear and managed to run into the street to seek assistance.”

The terrified woman, still wearing only her underwear, fled into the street to get help. John also destroyed her mobile phone by biting the screen.

Hid from police before escape

When officers arrived the following day to take a statement, they found John hiding in a bedroom. He then assaulted a female police officer, pushing her glasses off, before making his escape.

The defendant handed himself in 24 hours later.

‘Frightening attack’

John pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage and escaping from lawful custody. He has five previous convictions for six offences but none for violence.

Defence barrister Dan Griffiths said: “He accepts that the relationship is over. The defendant had been taking cocaine at the time which made him paranoid, volatile and unpredictable. The argument that had was about his drug taking and he completely lost his temper in what must have been a very frightening attack.”

The court heard John had worked as a fisherman, roofer and welder, and had struggled with alcohol and drug abuse.

Mr Griffiths added: “The pre-sentence report mentions his difficult start in life. The author also writes about his lack of insight and that he tries to minimise his offending, which is concerning.”

The defence urged the court to pass a suspended sentence so John could work with probation, but Judge Catherine Richards rejected this plea.

‘Left her frightened in her own home’

Sentencing John, Judge Richards said: “This was a serious offence of strangulation and you also assaulted your partner in a variety of ways. You left her frightened in her own home.”

John was jailed for two years and made the subject of a 10-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his former girlfriend.