An abusive man hit his former partner over the head with a plank of wood and went on to strangle her adult daughter when she threatened to call the police. He later burgled shops and caused significant damage.
Simon Sterling, 41, assaulted his ex partner after locking her in her flat in Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on May 21 last year. She said he was acting "paranoid", accused her of looking at him and subjected her to many assaults throughout the night.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Sterling hit her over the head with a plank of wood, causing an injury which bled. Prosecutor Susan Ferrier said: "She thought that night might be her last."
Read more: Sign up to the Wales Online Crime & Punishment newsletter
A second assault took place on June 14, 2021, when she visited the defendant with her daughter. He asked her for money but she refused as he was in a new relationship and she felt she was being used.
Ms Ferrier said: "There was a confrontation when she told him she had enough and was leaving. The defendant was unhappy with this and got angry. The daughter also described a confrontation and relates to him taking money from her purse and she got involved.
"The defendant issued a threat towards her, they got up to leave but he prevented them. He threw a drink over her mother and the daughter said she was going to call the police. The defendant grabbed the bag she was holding, called her names and grabbed her by the throat. She turned away and pushed him off, they continued scuffling but they managed to get out. They walked away from the property as the defendant levelled abuse towards them."
Sterling was later arrested after a neighbour called the police and a blood stained towel was found at the victim's home. He was released under investigation and was placed on bail. But on December 16 last year he was caught breaking into two shops in Treorchy.
The defendant burgled Boots, stealing £1,214 worth of perfume, gaining entry to the store by smashing the front door. He also burgled an independent shop called Wonder Stuff, causing £500 worth of damage to windows, a door and stock. The owner said the burglary had had a big impact on her family. She added: "Viewing the CCTV makes me sick, watching a person having no regard for my business or me."
Sterling, of HMP Cardiff, was arrested after he was caught on CCTV and DNA evidence linked him to the crime scenes. In respect of the assaults he maintained a not guilty plea until the day of his trial, when he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. The court was also told Sterling had 20 convictions including offences of a violent, sexual and dishonest nature.
In mitigation, defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client's life had been "blighted by addiction", and both sets of offences were committed as a result of his addiction and anxiety. He asked the court to keep the sentence as short as possible.
Describing the assault, Judge Neil Bidder KC said: "You locked the door of her flat, trapping her inside. The assault was a persistent one and included you hitting over the head with a plank, and she sustained cuts and bruises. She was also extremely frightened, this was a very controlling offence."
Sterling was sentenced to a total of 17 months' imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released on licence.
READ NEXT:
Handyman bullied elderly and vulnerable into unwanted and expensive gardening work
- Thug left man with split nostril after glassing him in the face in nightclub
- Cannabis factory gardener had threats made to family back home in Albania
- Man murders elderly neighbour and then pushes heavy cabinet on top of him
Dealer known as 'fat Gav' caught after messages were found on customer's phone
You can sign up to our regular Crime and Punishment newsletter here while this interactive tool allows you to check the latest crime statistics for your area:
