Man attacked his girlfriend

CHAD Joy, 29, screamed abuse at his girlfriend before throttling and smothering her following an argument in an incident that so alarmed neighbours they called the police, a court has heard.

A MAN screamed abuse at his girlfriend before throttling and smothering her, a court has heard.

Chad Joy attacked his partner following an argument in an incident that so alarmed neighbours they called the police.

During the assault, Joy’s victim lost consciousness on a number of occasions and a judge said it must have been a terrifying experience for the woman not knowing if her partner intended to end her life.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault took place at the victim’s house in Glyncorrwg in the Afan Valley in September 2018.

Gareth Waite, prosecuting, said during a row between the pair Joy shouted abuse at the woman before dragging her to the floor, sitting astride her, placing his hands around her neck and squeezing.

He said the squeezing of the neck caused his victim to pass out.

When the woman came around, 29-year-old Joy spat in her face.

The woman managed to get off the floor and sat on a nearby sofa but Joy continued the assault. He grabbed a pillow and held it over his victim’s face so she “drifted in and out of consciousness”.

The court heard a concerned neighbour had by now called the police but when officers arrived both parties denied anything had happened. It was only later that bruising on the woman’s chest, back and face developed.

The court heard no complaint was made at the time but Joy came to the attention of police again after two incidents of criminal damage in February and March this year. One had seen him kicking his victim’s car, again after a row, and the other had seen him smashing two televisions in the shed in the victim’s garden, where the defendant was staying because he was concerned he may have symptoms of coronavirus.

In his subsequent interview, he admitted the 2018 assault, saying the couple had argued over “trust” in their relationship and that he “finds it difficult to control my emotions”.

Joy, now of Fernhill, Mountain Ash, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of criminal damage. The court heard he has previous convictions for common assault and criminal damage.

Stuart John, for Joy, said the relationship between the pair had been “something of pressure cooker environment” in late 2018 following the deaths of close family members and the birth of their child.

He accepted it was an “extremely serious assault” but said the couple had continued to live together following it, adding that if he had not been for recent incidents of criminal damage the attack may not have been reported at all.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said on any view the assault carried out by Joy on his partner had been “particularly nasty”.

He said: “It must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for that woman in her own home, not knowing if you intended to end her life.”

The judge said it was clear from reports he had read on the defendant that he had mental health issues that needed addressing and that he was genuinely remorseful for the assault. The judge said considering all the circumstances and the guidelines he had “reluctantly” come to the view any sentence could be suspended.

Giving the defendant a one-third credit for his guilty pleas, he sentenced him to 12 months in prison for the assault and to two months for the criminal damage, to run concurrently with the sentence suspended for 18 months. The judge also ordered Joy to complete a rehabilitation course and to pay £270 compensation for the criminal damage matters at £10 a week, money, he noted, that the defendant would now not have available to buy cannabis.

■ If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.