A thug strangled his partner and hit her in the face with a shopping bag containing a vase and a child's doll after he accused her of flirting with her teenage son's friend. The victim said the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend had left her an "emotional mess".
Dale Mason, 43, of Caerphilly, was violent towards his partner during their relationship and accused her of lying when when he was questioned about his behaviour by police. The victim was left unable to breathe during the attacks and had trouble speaking due to the pain she felt.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Friday heard Mason and the victim had been in an on/off relationship since 2015 but were on good terms before the first assault took place. On November 23, last year, the victim's son had a friend visit but once they had left, the defendant accused the victim of flirting with her son's friend and called her a "slag and a paedophile".
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Prosecutor Ruth Smith said the victim told Mason to leave but he refused so she went upstairs. Having fallen asleep, she was woken up by the defendant at 1.30am, who was throwing Christmas presents down the stairs. They began to argue and Mason hit the victim to the face with a carrier bag containing a vase and a child's doll, before throwing the bag down the stairs, causing it to smash.
The victim suffered pain to her nose and mouth and called the police when the defendant refused to leave, but upon learning the police were on their way he left with the house key. He was arrested and cautioned but denied the assault.
The second incident took place on March 1 after Mason and the victim had rekindled their relationship. Before she left to spend the night with friends in Caerphilly town centre, the couple argued about the defendant using dating websites and she told him to leave but he refused.
She returned shortly later having been unwell, but only planned to change her top before leaving in a taxi which was waiting outside for her. An another argument began between Mason and the victim and he grabbed her around the neck while lifting her off her feet. Ms Smith said: "She could not breathe but did not lose consciousness." The attack came to stop when the taxi driver knocked on the door, which allowed the victim to escape. She was upset and shaken by what had happened. The next day her neck was sore and she struggled to speak.
The third attack took place on March 6 when Mason lost his temper over a television signal and blamed the victim for it not working before throwing a packet of cigarettes at her. The victim's friend arrived at the house but she felt the defendant was trying to intimidate her. When the friend left, he pushed the victim in her chest with both hands and raised his fist at her. He then grabbed her around the throat with his right hand but the defendant when a passer by saw what was happening and intervened.
Mason, of Brynfedw, Bedwas, went across to confront the passer-by but his niece had arrived to pick him up and he left in the car with her. He was later arrested and denied assaulting the victim but he later pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional strangulation and assault by beating. The defendant has two previous convictions for criminal damage and a public order offence.
In a victim personal statement read out the court, the victim said: "Since being with the defendant I would describe myself as an emotional mess. My emotions are up and down because of the incidents and when I think about them I space out and go blank. Even though the defendant is in custody my anxiety is high.
"Prior to meeting him I was lively and bubbly but I have become physically and emotionally exhausted. The assaults have caused me back problems and I am awaiting physiotherapy."
In mitigation, Gareth Williams said his client had turned to drinking after a work injury left him 80% blind in one eye, which caused him anxiety and depression. He said this led to a spiraling situation which culminated in the domestic assaults. The barrister said the defendant also believed he may be suffering with PTSD due to his upbringing in which he was a witness to domestic abuse.
Recorder John Philpotts sentenced Mason to a total of 18 months imprisonment. He also made him subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim for five years.
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