Benjamin Bird (Image: Facebook)
Last Updated: 5 hours ago
A Newport man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison after subjecting his former partner to a series of violent domestic abuse offences driven by jealousy and paranoia.
Benjamin Bird, 36, appeared at Newport Crown Court where he admitted intentional strangulation, intentional suffocation, threatening a person with an offensive weapon – a metal bar – in a private place, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The pub assault
The court heard the first attack took place on April 20, 2024, after the couple had been drinking at the Pen & Wig pub in Newport. Bird strangled the woman for around 10 seconds after becoming angry that she had been talking to another man. Prosecutor Tabitha Walker told the court the assault “only ended when she fought back”.
Attack in the taxi
On July 28, 2024, Bird punched the woman in the back of a taxi as they were heading home from a night out in Cardiff, again accusing her of being unfaithful.
“The defendant punched her in the face and spat at her,” Miss Walker said. “They were told to get out of the taxi before he threatened to kill her dog.”
Once home, Bird knocked her unconscious, leaving her with a black eye and pain in her jaw.
Threats and suffocation
On October 10 last year, Bird threatened to kill her with a metal bar when he went to collect his belongings from her address. Then on November 16, 2025, he began suffocating her after finding a picture of another man in her purse.
Victim’s words
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “The effect on my mental health has been profound. When I was with him, I was just trying to survive from one minute to the next.”
Defence and sentencing
The court heard the assaults were fuelled by cocaine and alcohol use. Bird has 11 previous convictions for 19 offences, including domestic violence against two other former partners.
Kevin Seal, defending father-of-three Bird, said: “He hates himself and wants to apologise to both the victim and her family for the harm he has caused them. It was inexcusable behaviour.”
The court was told Bird had suffered an “adverse childhood experience” which was not disclosed in open court.
Recorder Dyfed Llion Thomas told Bird: “Your jealousy and paranoia came to the fore. You subjected your victim to a terrifying series of offences. You really did behave appallingly, using violence and threats against her.”
Bird was jailed for 40 months and made the subject of a 10-year restraining order.
