Rhyl Man Jailed for Threatening Partner with Pickaxe

A Rhyl man who threatened to “put a f****** pickaxe through your head” has been jailed for 30 months after two violent attacks on his former partner.

John Atherton, 39, of East Parade, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court today – on his birthday – after admitting two assaults occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a knife.

The court heard how Atherton dragged his victim by the hair, punched her and later threatened her with knives during terrifying incidents in December and April.

In the first attack, he stood over her after punching her face and said: “F****** stay down.” He then threatened: “I’m going to put a f****** pickaxe through your head, you little rat.”

During the second assault in April, Atherton held a knife inches from her chest, headbutted her and smashed her car window as she tried to escape. He chased her in his work van as she drove to Rhyl Police Station.

An officer found her “covered in shards of glass from the broken window and bleeding” wearing only a T-shirt and pyjama shorts.

When arrested after a short chase, Atherton told officers: “I’m just heartbroken. If you’re in a relationship don’t be in it with a cheat.”

The victim now suffers from nightmares, flashbacks and PTSD following the attacks.

Judge Rhys Rowlands also imposed a five-year Domestic Abuse Protection Order.