Cailum Hill (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 2 minutes ago
A man described by a judge as “an aggressive bully” has been jailed for strangling his partner during a violent assault at her home.
Cailum Hill, 22, of Rowan Close, Mountain Ash, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Wednesday after being convicted of intentional strangulation and criminal damage following a trial. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a separate count of criminal damage.
The relationship
The court heard Hill had been in a relationship with the victim since April 2025 but it became increasingly volatile, marked by arguments and accusations of unfaithfulness. The couple separated and reconciled on multiple occasions despite the defendant being unfaithful to her.
On July 23 last year, Hill smashed a tablet during an argument. The victim was “alarmed” by his behaviour but chose to forgive him.
The attack
In the early hours of September 29, 2025, an argument broke out while the couple had been drinking and taking cocaine. Hill punched a door, causing damage, before pinning the victim down on her bed.
He sat astride her and grabbed her by the throat with one hand, restricting her breathing for between 10 and 15 seconds. She “thought she was going to die” during the assault.
When the victim asked Hill to leave afterwards he refused. She then tried to drive away but he followed her, attempting to open her car door and banging on the windows to stop her from leaving.
His actions caused the victim to collide with a parked car. Hill then called the police to report her driving, claiming she had been drinking and using cocaine.
He was asked to remain at the scene but fled, only handing himself in to police at a later date.
The victim’s words
In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Bethan Evans, the victim said: “I suffered bruises underneath my chin caused by Cailum grabbing me to my neck. I remember being tender around my neck after he strangled me, which was painful to touch and had bruises.
“Straight after the attack I was super-depressed and didn’t want to go out or speak to anyone because of what he did. I would snap at people regularly and got irritated over silly stuff I wouldn’t normally get annoyed about. My anxiety got so much worse since what he did. I feel so alone, can’t stop crying, and have gone back on antidepressants. When driving or in a quiet space I start crying.
“I am really struggling to sleep since this incident. I always look around me and I’m nervous in public because I don’t know who he knows or speaks to. I hate being on my own in public or on my own out and about.
“The biggest impact is I am unable to return to my flat. Every time I go back there I get panic attacks and don’t feel safe there. The first thing I see is blood on the doors – I’ve tried to wash it off but it’s still there as a constant reminder of what happened. Every time someone moves too quickly or near me I flinch – same with loud noises. I do not trust anydoy anymore – I always think people are lying or using me. I don’t think my trust will return any time soon.”
Previous offending
The court heard Hill has 13 previous convictions spanning a range of offences including possessing a bladed article, using threatening words or behaviour, criminal damage, assault, breaching restraining orders, and sending a threatening message.
Mitigation and sentence
In mitigation, Hannah Friedman told the court her client had three children with previous partners. Hill grew up with his father after his mother left the family, but when they re-established contact during his teenage years she introduced him to drugs, leading him to miss school and develop mental health issues.
Sentencing, Recorder Paul Lewis KC said: “During the trial you bragged about being a cage fighter. I’m certain you are just an aggressive bully.”
Hill was sentenced to a total of 27 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a restraining order for 10 years.
