Wrexham man jailed for attacking his ex and her friends

John Jones, of The Beeches in Wrexham, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Wednesday morning.

The 29-year-old had previously admitted four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of criminal damage.

Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, told the court that the principal victim in the case was Joanne Jones, who had begun a relationship with the defendant in 2019.

The relationship ended at one point, because of the defendant's "abusive behaviour," but resumed again - before finally ending again in February 2022.

On the evening of April 8 this year, Ms Jones had been at the Cross Foxes pub in Coedpoeth with her three friends Kirsty Hughes, Cerys Bartley and Megan Williams.

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Ms Jones returned to her home, also in Coedpoeth, and her friends attended there a short time later.

But as they arrived and knocked, John Jones emerged from the back garden - appearing "drunk" - and ran in through the open door.

What followed was a prolonged and persistent attack on Ms Jones, both outside and inside the home - where her three children were also present.

During the course of the attack, he struck her to the face and body multiple times, dragging her by the hair and "raining punches on her" as she curled up into a ball in the street.

He then pulled her top and bra off and was heard laughing at her and kneeing her in the face.

Throughout the incident, the victim's three friends attempted to protect her - and John Jones attacked them too.

As Megan Williams attempted to pull the defendant away, he elbowed her to the face and threw her to the floor, kicking her in the face.

Then he "lashed out and punched" all three of the other victims - and caused damage at the home during the incident.

The court saw and heard footage of the incident filmed by a witness.

In it, Ms Jones could be heard crying out and "whimpering" as the defendant repeatedly attacked her.

Joanne Jones sustained a fractured finger, bruising to her head and face, swelling and tenderness to her body.

Her three friends were left with numerous injuries including bruises, cuts and swelling.

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In her victim impact statement, Ms Hughes said she believed the defendant was going to kill Ms Jones, and that she and the other victims may have saved her life by taking some of the hits in an effort to protect her.

Mr Barnes told the court Jones has nine convictions for 13 offences - including for battery and common assault in 2015 on another previous partner, a 2018 conviction for assault against yet another previous partner and then a 2022 conviction for battery against Joanne Jones.

Mark Le Brocq, defending, told the court the "major mitigation" for his client was his guilty pleas, which entitled him to full credit.

He asked Judge Niclas Parry to have regard to the principle of totality - with the Judge agreeing to pass one sentence for the assault against Ms Jones to reflect the defendant's overall criminality.

Mr Le Brocq said: "There are aggravating features sadly including the previous domestic violence, some on the same victim.

"He's still only 29 and he's only ever been to prison once - in 2018, for 18 months."

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Judge Parry told Jones: "Out of control of your senses because of alcohol, you attacked the mother of your child - when children were in the home - and three other women in a terrifying frenzied attack.

"It was sickening to hear her literally whimpering. You sought to humiliate her by removing her top and bra.

"And the three women who tried to help were elbowed, punched and kicked."

Jones was jailed for 30 months, and made the subject of a five year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting or approaching any of the victims.