A MAN with a history of violent crimes against his partner has been put behind bars.

George Westgarth, of Heol Gwernallt in Coedpoeth, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday morning for sentence.

The 30-year-old had previously admitted two counts of intentional strangulation, one of assault by beating and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Elen Owen, prosecuting, told the court the victim, Laura Kendrick, had been in an on-off relationship with Westgarth, with whom she has two children.

On April 27, following a few days of arguing with the defendant, Ms Kendrick went to make a cigarette.

Westgarth accused her of hiding tobacco from him and became irate, throwing a lighter which 'ricocheted' off a door and hit her.

He then grabbed her by the neck and began to squeeze, but eventually relented.

Things were not good between them over the next couple of days, Ms Owen said, and on April 29 the defendant went to a caravan the couple had in Tywyn.

The victim hadn't wanted to go as she was hoping to have a break from him, but after he begged her, she reluctantly agreed.

Whilst at the caravan, they began to row again.

That night, he became angry for no reason and began pushing her, then wrapped his arm around her neck in a headlock, trying to throw her out of the caravan.

She wasn't aware of how it happened, but Ms Kendrick was left with a cut to one of her eyes which left a scar.

The police were called and at about 1.30am and the defendant was arrested.

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He initially "denied any wrongdoing, placing the blame firmly on her," but later accepted responsibility for the crimes.

Ms Owen said the defendant had been in court twice previously for using violence against the victim - once in 2014 for assault, and then in 2015 for assault with a weapon.

Ms Kendrick attended the sentencing to read her victim statement in person.

She said: "I feel ashamed and embarrassed.

"My face has healed but I am left with a scar; a reminder of what I've suffered.

"I need to rebuild my life without fear, away from him."

Dafydd Roberts, defending, said the court faced a "stark choice," - urging Judge Niclas Parry to impose a more constructive sentence than immediate custody.

He said: "He concedes that his behaviour is totally unacceptable and something needs to be done to address that."

Mr Roberts said while the defendant had attacked his partner previously, there had been a significant gap between the last attack and the one before the court.

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Sending him to prison would also adversely affect his family financially as he would lose his job, he added.

Judge Parry handed down an 18 month custodial sentence - telling the defendant that due to the severity of the offences, his previous convictions for violence against the defendant and other aggravating features, the sentence would have to be served immediately.

He also imposed a 10 year restraining order to protect the victim.