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Daily Record
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Ryan O'Neill & Nicola Croal

Abusive thug made girl, 8, swallow washing up liquid and strangled her mum

A vicious man who made an eight-year-old girl swallow washing up liquid and tried to choke her mother has been jailed and received a 20-year restraining order which forbids him from contacting both his victims. Dalton Jefferies, 22, both physically and psychologically abused his ex-girlfriend by degrading her in front of her friends and taking her mobile off her when they weren't in the same room.

Jefferies also tried to throttle the woman before self harming, which he accused the woman of making him do, Wales Online reports. The brute was snared by North Wales Police young girl began to share stories about her situation at home while she was in school, Caernarfon Crown court heard on October, 12.

He was arrested and jailed for two-and-a-half years for the abuse, while he was also hit with a 15-month sentence for child cruelty, which will run concurrently. Jefferies, of Cwr Y Coed, Llangefni, had regular angry outbursts which included telling his former partner, the girl's mother, he would "chew her tongue off".

Prosecutor Anna Pope said Jefferies had been in a relationship with the woman for four months from July to October last year. It began well but soon deteriorated. He had outbursts of temper and caused her physical and psychological harm.

The prosecutor said he demeaned the woman in front of her friends, banned her from taking her phone with her when she went out of the room, lashed out at furniture and even tried to strangle her. The court also heard Jefferies would self-harm and try to blame the woman for his actions.

The court also heard the eight-year-old girl witnessed the defendant's outbursts of temper and his self-harming. He would call her stupid and she was frightened of him. The prosecutor added that Jefferies would force her cheeks together to open her mouth and make her drink washing up liquid, which gave her a tummy ache and made her sick.

But, from September last year, the girl started speaking about her experiences at school and the woman made recordings of the defendant's behaviour. In one clip, he threatened "to chew her tongue off".

North Wales Police arrested Jefferies last October and he later admitted the offences. Philip Clemo, defending, said Jefferies, who appeared on a link from HMP Berwyn, had a difficult background and had a personality disorder.

He said: "He does not want to use his appalling childhood and mental health issues as an excuse when he's sitting on a bench on a video link talking to a crown court judge for the rest of his life. He wants to do better than that."

But judge Timothy Petts told Jefferies: "What you did to both of the (victims) was awful", adding that he had inflicted physical and psychological impact on the woman and that the psychological impact on both victims was ongoing. "It's clear you had a very difficult upbringing. But you are now an adult and need to behave rather better.

''You have shown minimal remorse, blaming (the woman) for what happened for most of the time." The judge added: "If you breach your restraining order a custodial sentence is likely to follow."

Detective Sergeant Adam Sergeant, of North Wales Police, welcomed the sentences and said: "Tackling domestic abuse remains a priority for North Wales Police. This sentence is welcomed because not only does it reinforce that abhorrent behaviour such as this is unlawful and will be punished, but hopefully will build confidence in others to report to us if they themselves, or someone they know is a victim of coercive and controlling behaviour.

''The restraining order is also welcomed as this will provide additional protection to Jefferies’ victims."

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