Wrexham sex offender jailed for attacks on two ex-partners

A Wrexham man already subject to sex offender notification requirements has been sent to prison for four years and two months following a series of attacks on two former partners.

Matthew Mills, of Argoed, Brymbo, was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday (July 29). He had admitted intentional strangulation, assault by beating and two breaches of a domestic abuse protection order (DAPO). North Wales Police said he had additionally failed to meet the notification requirements imposed on him as a registered offender, after two separate incidents between last July and September.

The strangulation

The earliest of the offences dates to December 2022. Mills grew aggressive towards the woman he was then in a relationship with after she arrived home from a night out. Attempts by her to defuse the situation came to nothing. He closed his hands around her throat and strangled her. She managed to break away, only for Mills to follow her into another room and strangle her a second time.

A second former partner

January of this year brought a further attack, this time on a different ex-partner – a woman covered by a 10-year DAPO taken out to keep her safe from him. Officers said Mills backed her into a corner and shoved her into a kitchen countertop, before taking hold of her hand and bending her fingers backwards while she was trying to get a door open and leave. A second breach of the order followed later, when he contacted her from prison.

Sentencing

Of the four years and two months imposed, two years and eight months was attached to the strangulation offence.

Police response

Detective Constable Gina Thompson, who investigated, said: “I commend the bravery of both victims in coming forward and reporting Mills who is a violent and intimidating man.

“I hope this sentence allows them to move forward in the knowledge he cannot cause any further harm and reflects our continued efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.

“We remain relentless in our pursuit to bring to justice to those who inflict violence upon women and girls, and to raise public trust to encourage victims to speak out against violence.

“If you have experienced something similar, please talk to us and trust us. We are here for you.”