Colwyn Bay,North Wales - Man jailed for two attacks on former partner

Published date: 10 May 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A young man described as controlling and intimidating was jailed for 12 weeks for two attacks on a former partner.

 

Adam Robert Clarke held a lighter to her, pushed her down stairs, and tried to strangle her.

 

Judge Geraint Walters, sitting at Mold Crown Court, told Clarke he was lucky the CPS had only charged him with two offences of common assault.

 

If he had been charged with ABH he could have expected between one and two years.

 

Clarke, aged 23, of Ffordd Dawel in Colwyn Bay, was told by Judge Walters that he had “a violent streak” in him.

 

The prosecution requested a restraining order but the judge said the complainant did not want one.

 

The court heard how the couple had been in a volatile relationship, he was described as very controlling and intimidating, and very disrespectful towards her.

 

One night in March when drunk she told him to stop being abusive on the phone while ordering a pizza.

 

His reaction was to hold the flame of a lighter towards her face.

 

She tried to push him away but he pushed her to the floor, sat on top of her with both hands around the throat and began to strangle her.

 

Clarke pinned her arms behind her back and tried to burn her eye lashes.

 

A witness told him to stop and he did but was said to be laughing uncontrollably.

 

He was later apologetic.

 

Later, while at the top of the stairs, she was punched and fell – grabbing the banister.

 

But he pushed her down the stairs and she crashed into a stair gate at the bottom.

 

He then got on top of her, pulled her hair, got the phone from her hand to prevent her calling the police.

 

The attack only ended when she “grabbed his privates”.

 

He released his grip, she ran out of the front door, crying hysterically and was helped by a neighbour who heard her “loud and desperate” screams.

 

Interviewed, he said: “I am denying all of it.”

 

Both sides of her face were red and swollen and she had other injuries to her body and knee.

 

In a victim impact statement she said she feared what he was capable of.

 

Defending barrister Sarah Yates said there was a realistic prospect of reconciliation and if he was jailed he would not have the benefit of a domestic violence course. 

see-http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/161857/colwyn-bay-man-jailed-for-two-attacks-on-former-partner.aspx