A WREXHAM man who terrorised, physically assaulted and humiliated his former partner over a long period has been jailed for three years.
Daniel Williams, 35 and of Bryn Hafod, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on Thursday from HMP Berwyn after admitting engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour, strangling his former partner, as well as breaching a restraining order.
Judge Niclas Parry heard that over a minimum two-year period, Williams – who used to be in the army – had carried out a campaign of terror after working his way back into her life.
The court heard that the pair had been involved in an on/off relationship.
Williams, who had received a community order for previous offending against her, contacted her to apologise for his behaviour, but within a month, had returned to abusing her.
According to the prosecution, he verbally and physically assaulted her, claiming that when he was nice ‘he was Danny’ but when abusive, he created a character called ‘Ganny’ that would be used to strike fear in his victim.
There were numerous incidents of physical violence in late 2021 and into 2022, culminating in Williams carrying out a threat to make her ’eat her own glasses’ which chipped one of her teeth.
In mitigation, the court heard that since his time in HMP Berwyn, Williams has tried to address his mental health issues.
On sentencing, Judge Parry said: “It was a campaign of violence and terror.
“It’s all about the control, domination and humiliation of her and violence so frequent she could not distinguish between one or the other.
“She had a number of injuries, including a chipped tooth caused by you humiliating her by making her eat her own spectacles.
“She has been left with serious anxiety.”
He said the matter was aggravated by his poor history with eight convictions for domestic violence.
Williams was jailed for three years for coercive and controlling behaviour but received no separate penalty for the remaining offences.
He was given an indefinite restraining order.
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