Man in court as romance washed up
ABOYFRIEND who made headlines after proposing on one of Wales’ most famous beaches in dramatic style has appeared in court after a furious row with his fiancée.
Huw Thomas, 35, popped the question with 30-metre-high letters written in the sand at Rhossili Bay, Gower, in 2015.
But just three years after partner Kara Conlon accepted his gigantic beach proposal, a court has heard that the pair were sleeping in separate bedrooms.
Property manager Thomas appeared in court after arguing with Ms Conlon, 33, at their home – and punching a hole in the bedroom wall.
The defendant pleaded guilty to criminal damage but had denied drink-driving, of which he was also found guilty.
Magistrates in Cardiff heard that Thomas drowned his sorrows after a bust-up.
He got behind the wheel of his Audi A4 and drove with 125 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35.
Prosecutor Hannah George said: “Police attended at 4.15pm and searched the property.
“He was at the back of the address and he was slumped on the kitchen floor.
“He provided a positive breath test at the address.”
Thomas told the court that their relationship had broken down despite his marriage proposal.
He said: “The day started off abruptly with my other half kicking down the door of the spare bedroom at 6.30am.
“We had separated weeks before. We were sleeping in separate bedrooms. She said, ‘get up, we have things to do’.”
Thomas said his ex made a comment to him at the bottom of the stairs and he reacted by punching the wall at their home in St Fagans, Cardiff.
He claimed he drove sober to a Tesco Express, bought two bottles of wine and went for a walk up the nearby Garth mountain.
He said: “I consumed the alcohol in the kitchen and then I stayed put. It was two bottles of wine and probably about half a bottle of gin as well.”
But magistrates in Cardiff rejected his claims that he had been sober while driving.
The court heard that Thomas had a problem with alcohol and has since been in rehab.
The defendant, now of Cwmbran, Torfaen, was banned from approaching his former fiancée before the hearing.
He was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.
Thomas, who has two previous drink-driving convictions, must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 days’ rehabilitation activity. He was disqualified from driving for 48 months.