Gasps were heard in court as Nathan Howells, who strangled his defenceless girlfriend for 30 seconds and then punched her in the head, escaped a prison term
Nathan Howells, a 20-year-old from Bridgend, Wales, attacked his girlfriend after she refused to buy him liquid to refill his vape, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
The victim characterised her 14-month relationship with Howells as “controlling”, with the court hearing how he would monitor her phone and restrict her social media use. The abuse escalated on October 29 last year into a harrowing incident of domestic violence at her residence.
Prosecutor Kirsten Murphy recounted that Howells demanded she purchase e-liquid for his vape, and when she declined, he started hurling items around the room.
“These included cushions from the sofa and drawers from cupboards,” Ms Murphy detailed. “He punched a hole in the living room wall and pushed her to the chest, causing her to stumble back.”
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The prosecutor continued to describe the attack: “He called her useless. He used both hands to squeeze her throat for 30 seconds, causing her to feel lightheaded.
“After falling backwards onto her back, while she lay defenceless on the floor, he struck her head and ribs, inflicting immediate pain. She retreated upstairs, only for him to follow and kick her belongings down the stairs.”
The victim, in a desperate attempt to seek help, messaged a family member on Snapchat to come over but then, fearing that Howells might see the message, she quickly sent another telling them not to worry.
She was left with bruising and red marks on her neck following the ordeal, reports Wales Online.
What was said in court
In her statement to the court, she expressed her ongoing trauma, saying she’s been struggling to sleep since the attack as she “constantly” replays the incident in her mind, adding: “I am constantly looking over my shoulder when I go anywhere out of fear I will bump into Nathan.”
Howells, from Tremgarth in Wildmill, admitted to intentional strangulation, assault and criminal damage. His defence, Jac Brown, stated that Howells had no prior convictions and that he had received news of his aunt’s death on the morning of the offences.
“He became deliberately argumentative with the complainant and he recognises he simply lost it with her,” Mr Brown explained.
The probation service deemed Howells a medium risk of harm to the victim. Mr Brown suggested that this risk could be mitigated with a restraining order.
“Prior to these offences he was unemployed and a frequent smoker of cannabis, which he used to cope with his unemployment,” Mr Brown continued.
“He has realised cannabis will not help him and has abstained for several months now, while enjoying stability as a permanent contractor in a warehouse.”
Howells’ sentence after showing ‘some remorse’
Judge Paul Hobson, while sentencing Howells, emphasised the gravity of his actions: “People who engage in behaviour of this kind, very often young men, should expect to be severely punished.
“An act of strangulation is inherently dangerous and terrifying for its victim. You only have to think what it would be like to be strangled and have difficulty breathing to realise why that is so.”
However, the judge considered Howells’ youth, lack of prior convictions, and signs of “some remorse”.
Consequently, Howells received a 12-month sentence at a young offender institute, suspended for two years. The courtroom witnessed gasps and tears from two women in the public gallery as they realised Howells would avoid immediate imprisonment; he himself remained impassive.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Howells was ordered to complete a 25-day rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £600 in compensation and £100 in prosecution costs.
A restraining order was set, prohibiting Howells from contacting the victim for five years.