Man threatened to stub out cigarette in ex-partner’s eye
AMAN abused and beat his partner then threatened her into withdrawing her statement to police, a court has heard.
Jonathan Hale grabbed the woman by the throat, spat in her face and told her he would put out his lit cigarette in her eye.
After he intimidated her into withdrawing her complaint to police about the the assault, he attacked her again.
Swansea Crown Court heard Hale, 27, has a previous conviction for inflicting grievous bodily harm on a different ex-girlfriend.
Ian Wright, prosecuting, said Hale and his most recent victim had been in an “on-off relationship” until the woman ended matters in April last year upon the defendant’s release from a prison sentence.
In the early hours of November 27 the woman was at home in Port Talbot feeding her seven-week-old baby when Hale and a male friend turned up at the door.
The court heard the defendant began shouting at the woman, telling her she had ruined his life. When he ignored repeated requests to leave, Hale’s ex tried to call the police.
Mr Wright said the defendant took the woman’s mobile and when she tried to use the landline he grabbed the handset and began smashing it on the floor and on his head.
The court heard he told the woman she had until his cigarette “burned down to the cork” to tell him about what he said were her infidelities or he would put out the cigarette in her eye. He then grabbed her by the face and squeezed tightly before spitting at her twice, grabbing her by the neck, and telling her: “Look what you made me do.”
Mr Wright said the attack was reported to the police but Hale then began threatening the woman over the phone and in person, telling her he would post stuff on Facebook that would result in her children being taken off her. He also took her phone off her and prevented her from visiting her poorly mother in hospital.
As a result of the intimidation the victim withdrew her complaint in December, telling officers she had exaggerated in her original statement and would not support any prosecution.
Less than a week later Hale assaulted the woman again, dragging her upstairs at her home, grabbing her by the hair, and pouring a carton of orange juice over her.
The woman contacted police again and said she wanted with retract her withdrawal statement, saying she had been pressurised into giving it.
Hale, of Croft Road, Neath, admitted two counts of battery and witness intimidation. The court heard he has 22 previous convictions for 41 offences including one for inflicting grievous bodily harm on a different ex-partner in 2016. He was jailed for 32 months for the assault.
Giving the defendant a 10% discount for his guilty pleas, Judge Paul Thomas QC sentenced him to four months in prison for the first assault, one month for the second and 16 months for witness intimidation. All the sentences will run consecutively, making a total sentence of 21 months. Hale will serve up to a half that period in custody before begin released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
He was made the subject of a fiveyear restraining order banning him from contact his victim or her mother.