A man grabbed his ex-partner by the neck and choked her after drinking 20 pints at a family funeral. Darryan Edwards turned up at his former girlfriend's house in a drunken state after attending a wake and was allowed to stay but then became abusive and violent towards her, slapping and throttling the woman and putting her in a headlock. At the time of the assault he was on a community order for a previous attack on the same woman.
Giving the defendant a suspend sentence the judge warned him there would be "no further chances" and told him if he breaches the order he can book himself a place in Swansea prison.
David Singh, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that on March 2 this year Edwards turned up his ex-partner's address in an "intoxicated and upset" state after attending a funeral. His former partner allowed him to sleep in the spare room but he later went into her room where became violent and aggressive. He struck the woman across the face with a back-handed slap before grabbing her by the throat and then putting her in a headlock.
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The court heard that due to Edwards' intoxicated state the victim was able to push her assailant off and she grabbed her daughter and car keys and made for the door. The defendant responded by shouting: "Go on then you fat ugly ****." The police were called and the defendant was arrested at the scene. Edwards was interviewed the following day and told officers he had consumed 20 pints of alcohol. He said he did not recall assaulting his ex but added that was something he would not do. The defendant was subsequently released on bail on condition that he not contact his victim.
The prosecutor said the following month Edwards turned up at his ex's cousin's house after the two women had been on a night out together and began shouting abuse before punching the front door and kicking the wing mirror off the cousin's car. Edwards then made more than 50 calls to his ex trying to get hold of her.
Darryan Edwards, aged 29, of Jury Lane, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, had previously pleaded guilty to common assault, strangulation, criminal damage, and harassment when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has six previous convictions for 13 offences including assaults and criminal damage involving the same victim. In 2022 he was given a community order for an attack on his ex which saw him slapping and punching her before throwing a baby gate at her.
Hannah George, for Edwards, said the defendant's life had gone "a little off the rails" following the death of his nephew in February, and he recognised that he used alcohol as a coping mechanism. She said the defendant was now seeking help on a voluntary basis from Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service. The barrister said the defendant has two children from a previous relationship who he co-parents and, as someone who witnessed violence in the home when growing up, he is "desperate to avoid history repeating itself".
Judge Geraint Walters described the defendant's behaviour as an "ugly piece of offending" committed while subject to a court order for a previous incident of domestic violence. He said as the sentence which was due on the guidelines was one of less than two years he was obliged to consider whether it could be suspended, and he said he was persuaded there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation - though he warned the defendant he had run out of chances. The judge said: "Breach this order and you can book yourself a place in Swansea prison. There will be no further chances. I cannot be plainer with you. You have used up all your lives."
With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Edwards was sentenced to 10 months in prison and the judge revoked the existing community order and re-sentenced him to two months in prison to run consecutively making an overall sentence of 12 months in prison suspended for two years. Edwards was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and a building better relationships course, and to do 200 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order banning him from contact his former partner.
