Woman kicked partner in face and threw her at wall
A WOMAN assaulted her partner by throwing her against a wall and kicking her in the face.
April Welsh assaulted her former partner Claire Roberts-Lloyd in her flat following a visit to a pub that ended when Welsh smashed a glass on the floor and was asked to leave by security.
When they returned home the 34-year-old grabbed her partner by the arm and threw her against walls and furniture before kicking Ms Roberts-Lloyd in the face with a bare foot while she crouched on the floor trying to protect herself.
A sentencing hearing held at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday heard Welsh carried out the assault while serving a community order for an offence of drink-driving.
Lowri Patterson, prosecuting, said Ms Roberts-Lloyd drove to Welsh’s home on the evening of March 7, 2020, and they went to a pub in Blackwood with another woman.
At the pub Ms Patterson said Ms Roberts-Lloyd noticed Welsh had her mobile phone in her hand and was receiving a call from a former partner.
Ms Roberts-Lloyd took the phone from the defendant, causing Welsh to “become aggressive” and smash a glass on the floor in anger. Ms Patterson said security staff approached her and she was asked to leave.
The prosecutor said Welsh was taken back to her address alone by Ms Roberts-Lloyd.
“Upon entering the flat
April became aggressive, grabbing Claire by the arm,” Ms Patterson said.
“April grabbed Claire and threw her around the address and into furniture and walls.
“Claire crouched down and tried to protect herself while April kicked her in the face.”
Ms Patterson said a neighbour called the police after hearing shouting and screaming coming from the property.
The prosecutor said pictures of the victim showed bruising to the left leg and lower back as well as scram marks on her right shoulder and left breast.
Welsh, of Old School Place, Blackwood, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Hashim Salmman, defending, said his client deserved full credit for her early guilty pleas.
He said Welsh was sorry for her actions and had written a letter to the court to express her remorse and pointed to his client’s previous good character.
He accepted that his client had been dealt with for three previous offences of drink-driving but none relating to violence.
Mr Salmman also accepted that the ABH offence occurred while Welsh was still within the operational period of a community order.
Addressing the defendant, Recorder Sean Bradley said: “It’s clear to me that you face many challenges in your life and that you are taking steps to address those problems.
“The two of you were in a short relationship at the time and this happened after a visit to a pub in Blackwood with Claire warning you about not talking to your former partner on the telephone.
“It’s clear from Miss Roberts-Lloyd’s statement that she found this to be a frightening experience and this had a longer-term impact on her.
“She is afraid of going back to Blackwood again because she is afraid she will see you there.”
Welsh was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and must complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
A restraining order barring Welsh from contacting Ms Roberts-Lloyd was also imposed for a period of five years.
Welsh must pay £420 court costs and a surcharge of £120.
■ 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.
THE number of reported deaths with coronavirus and positive cases among Welsh care home residents has dropped dramatically in the past few weeks.
Latest data from the Welsh Government has shown that there are now around three deaths related to Covid19 per day involving adults living in care homes. That is a significant drop on the 20 deaths per day seen during the peak in mid-January and it is now down to levels last seen in November 2020.
Experts have claimed the successful rollout of the coronavirus vaccine, which has seen 94.6% of care home residents and 84% of care home workers given their first dose, has contributed to the improving picture.
The total number of deaths related to Covid-19 reported in January among these residents was 465 – the highest number in a single month since the pandemic began. But in February this dropped to 162, which was also lower than November 2020 (249) and December 2020 (243).
Since March 16, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) has been notified of 1,890 care home resident deaths with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, making up 23% of all reported deaths. The overall death rate involving all illnesses and injuries was 34% higher than those reported for the same time period in the previous 12 months.
The figures also revealed that 55 (5.2%) out of 1,048 adult care homes in Wales notified CIW of one or more confirmed cases of the virus among staff or residents in the past seven days – a sharp decrease compared to 87 (8.3%) in the seven days up to February 12.
The Welsh Government also looks at data for the past 20 days, which again demonstrates an encouraging pattern of improvement. Some 173 (16.5%) adult care homes in Wales notified CIW of one or more confirmed cases in the past 20 days, a decrease compared to 238 (22.7%) in the 20 days up to February 12.
Mario Kreft MBE, chairman of Care Forum Wales, said the drop in cases and deaths was “a clear indication” that the vaccine rollout is having a major impact in helping to protect residents and staff from the disease.
“But we are not out of the woods yet, far from it,” he said. “Emerging mutant strains of Covid are a real cause for concern because they are more contagious, and it’s feared the new variant from Brazil may be more resistant to the vaccine, posing a real risk to elderly, frail and vulnerable people.
“It is vitally important that we do not become complacent. We must remain hugely vigilant and I would appeal to people to adhere to all the sensible safeguards like social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising properly. Our first and most important priority is ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff so we need to adopt a cautious approach to care home visiting.”
He said many of the outbreaks in care homes, like the many outbreaks in hospitals across Wales, had been “unavoidable”.
“It’s very clear the first wave had a great deal to do with issues in relation to testing and people who were infected but not showing symptoms coming into care homes,” he added.
“The second wave was down to a combination of very high community transmission and the new variant strain becoming the dominant factor.”
Mr Kreft admitted there remained concerns about some care home staff refusing to have the Covid-19 vaccine. While the majority have been inoculated, there were more than 6,300 (16%) still unprotected.
“I think there are concerns about this right across Wales. It only takes one person to bring one of the new strains in to vulnerable people.”