Woman beaten and stamped on by jealous lover
A BRIDESMAID was attacked on her sister’s wedding night by her jealous boyfriend, who accused her of flirting at the reception.
Jessica Gittings, 25, left the reception with drunken Aaron Williams, 26, before he challenged her about fancying other men.
Jessica was still wearing her maidof-honour dress when jealous Williams accused her of cheating on him and put her through a 90-minute violent ordeal at her mother’s home. Williams left Jessica with a footprint on her face and cuts and bruises across her body.
But a court heard that Williams then tried to take her away in a taxi so her mother would not see the injuries. Jessica’s family returned home from the wedding of her sister, Lisa, to find her injured on the floor, and Williams fled.
Prosecutor David Pinnell said: “After they were back at home his behaviour deteriorated. He was jealous and accused her of flirting with another male whilst at the wedding.
“This was a sustained and repeated assault on the victim, who was heavily intoxicated and alone.”
Cardiff Crown Court heard Williams threw a bedside lamp at Jessica before throwing her to the floor then kicking her in the hips and stamping on her face. Afterwards Williams told her: “I love you. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”
The court heard Jessica was taken to A&E at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil where she was treated for an injury to her jaw and bruising. During his police interview Williams claimed he had acted in self-defence after she “wanted to scratch me”.
Mr Pinnell said: “The victim has asked for a restraining order as she wants a line drawn under this relationship– she says she wishes it had never got off the ground.
“She said that before this incident she was happy, confident, and outgoing. She is exactly the opposite now.”
Hashim Salmman, representing Williams, said: “The defendant pleaded guilty on the day of his trial, which spared the victim the further ordeal of having to give further live evidence.
“He has no previous convictions or propensity for violence. There is a realistic prospect of his rehabilitation.”
Judge Catherine Richards said Williams was guilty of an “appalling” attack.
She added: “After your actions you even had the audacity to say that you loved her as you tried to take her away in a taxi.”
Williams, of Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, admitted ABH, was jailed for 21 months, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 35 sessions of a building better relationships programme.
The defendant was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order and must pay a £140 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the sentence, Jessica said: “For three years I suffered with a narcissistic psychotic thing of a person who took complete control over my life to the point where I’ve wanted to take my own life.”
She told how the attack began after he took her home from the wedding. She said: “He was screaming at me, accusing me of cheating on him and accusing me of lying and going behind his back with a family member’s partner.
“He beat me to a pulp for over an hour and a half, stamped on my head to the point I had shoe prints on my face and a chipped tooth.
“He kicked me over and over in my hips knowing that was a weak point for me – he was literally frothing at the mouth smashing my bedroom up, picked me up from the floor laughing and spitting at me, threw a lava lamp at my head and smashed up my door, taking it off the hinges,
“I’ve never been so scared. At that point I feared for my life.
“He had turned before, but not as bad to the point where I was genuinely scared how far and how much longer it was going to go on for.”
■ 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.