Man strangled his girlfriend after she hid bottle of vodka

A DRUNK boyfriend strangled his terrified partner until she lost consciousness when she hid a bottle of vodka to try to stop him drinking.

Matthew Jones, 25, admitted injuring his partner Kirsty Smith by choking her at their home in Nant-y-moel after she tried to discourage him from drinking any more alcohol.

Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Eleri Rees noted the victim – who thought she was going to die – was “extremely frightened”.

The court heard the assault occurred on January 8 at the home they shared in Price Town.

Gareth James, prosecuting, said the pair had been in a relationship for about two years.

Ms Smith stated she knew her partner had “anger issues” when drinking excessively.

Prosecutors said she wanted Jones to stop drinking that evening so made him some toast.

He appeared to calm down but she was concerned and contacted a friend, saying she was worried he might “kick off”.

The court heard Ms Smith hid a bottle of vodka under the kitchen sink and the defendant responded by shouting at her and banging cupboard doors looking for it.

Mr James said: “He was crashing and banging around the house.”

Prosecutors said Ms Smith managed to get outside but Jones pulled her back, locked the door, and grabbed her phone. He added: “She was shouting for help.”

The court heard Jones pushed his girlfriend to the floor and sat on top of her.

Mr James said: “He placed both hands around her neck and began to strangle her. She could not get him off her.

“At that point, she thought he was going to kill her. She passed out.”

Prosecutors said Ms Smith heard him phoning for an ambulance as she regained consciousness and she shouted: “Help, he’s going to kill me.”

Police arrived and arrested Jones while Ms Smith was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend where she was treated for whiplash and bruising to her neck and ribs.

In a victim impact statement read out in court she said the incident left her feeling “scared” and nervous about leaving the house.

During his police interview Jones said he could not remember what happened after he started drinking vodka although he could remember performing CPR.

Prosecutors argued it was a sustained and repeated attack on a vulnerable victim in her own home while the defendant was “heavily intoxicated”.

Mr James said the defendant inflicted a high level of harm by “throttling” the victim until she passed out.

Jones, from Bryn Ogwr in Price Town, Bridgend, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Giles Hayes, defending, said: “He recognises the relationship is over.”

Judge Rees said: “This was a serious assault involving strangling.

“[Ms Smith] was extremely frightened, she lost consciousness, and she thought worse was going to happen to her.”

Jones was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

The judge imposed a five-year restraining order and told the defendant: “Keep out of trouble or you will be back in custody.”