'Wannabe gangster' strangled ex in front of her two year old daughter

A wannabe "gangster" flew into rage and attacked his ex-girlfriend in front of her two-year-old daughter. Jack Brenan, also known as Jack Brennan, was supported in court by his new girlfriend but the judge questioned why anyone would want a relationship with a repeat domestic violence offender who has "small man syndrome".

Prosecutor Dean Pulling told Swansea Crown Court that the victim started dating Brenan in February 2023 and ended the relationship after around 11 months due to "infidelity and jealous behaviour". After Brenan, 26, found an old dating profile she had used on the Tinder app, he became enraged. He went to the victim's Llanelli home on January 30 this year and let himself in, shouting threats while heading up the stairs towards the victim, who was on the phone to her brother.

Mr Pulling said: "Using what she described as a tight grip, he grabbed her by the throat and pushed his face into hers, calling her a 'f***ing s**g' through gritted teeth and pushing her into the bathroom by her throat, causing her to fall on the floor. He began to throw money at her and told her to buy a new camera, in reference to a Ring doorbell that had been damaged previously.

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She manged to get up and tried to push him out. Her two-year-old daughter was present on the landing and crying as she could see what was happening. The victim put the child in a bedroom but the defendant then kicked the baby gate at the door, causing further distress," Wales Online reported.

Brenan then left the scene and shortly afterwards the victim's brother, who had heard the attack unfold over the phone, arrived at the address to find his sister and niece in severe distress. There were red strangulation marks on the victim's neck. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

This did not mark the end of Brenan's abuse. Over the following weeks he bombarded his ex with calls and messages, threatening to "get a couple of boys down there" and have a brick put through her window. He was arrested on February 17 and issued with a domestic violence protection notice barring him from contacting the victim. He ignored this and sent abusive messages threatening to upload videos of the victim online and "burn the street down". Brenan threatened to go to her mother's house, adding: "F*** everyone's house, your neighbour's having it, and your mother." He warned her against being a "grass", telling her "I know where everyone lives" and that if he was arrested he would "take it out" on her family.

Brenan was charged with intentional strangulation, witness intimidation, coercive and controlling behaviour, and criminal damage. The last two charges were dropped, which led to a mistake by the prison where Brenan had been remanded. Believing all charges had been dropped, the prison released Brenan. After he was informed of the error and told to surrender, Brenan refused and instead went on holiday in the West Country. He was eventually arrested at a service station in the area.

Brenan, of Railway Place in Llanelli, admitted strangulation, witness intimidation and breaching bail. He had 41 previous offences on his record including many driving offences, as well as battery and criminal damage against a former partner in 2019. In that incident he put a knife in her living room door and slashed her mattress and shower curtain as well as threatening to slit her throat.

"He thinks he's something of a gangster, doesn't he, as if we should be scared of him," remarked Judge Geraint Walters. "He's not, obviously, a gangster, but he thinks he is. It's childish. He says things like, 'I'm going to burn the whole street.' He's never complied with a court order in his life. He thinks he's above all of that."

Brenan's barrister David Singh admitted his client had an "appalling" record. The judge continued: "I don't think he's complied with anything, ever. He abuses motor vehicles, which is no doubt part of the flash image he has, and he beats up women." Mr Singh then mentioned that Brenan has a new girlfriend who was in court to support him.

Judge Walters replied: "Well, I don't know how many partners he's had but he's certainly beaten up two. There are not many men who take pleasure in that. It takes a certain kind of man. Usually what I call small man syndrome. The only thing that makes him feel big is being flash and violent."

Mr Singh said the strangulation was "an instinctive holding of the throat" and was "not prolonged". He added that Brenan owns four shops where he employs 10 people and has been trying to continue running the businesses from custody. "There is a different side to this defendant," Mr Singh told the court. "He's at a crossroads where he needs to mature, grow up and put this offending behind him."

Judge Walters told Brenan: "You honestly do think you're something of a gangster. An arrogant young man who has an opinion of himself far above that which is justified. You need to come down a peg or two and start behaving like a man, not an adolescent bully. You were released wrongly by the prison, and when told to surrender you booked a holiday. It is the height of arrogance." He added that Brenan was "hardly a catch to any woman". The judge imposed a two-year jail term and a 10-year order restraining him from contact with the victim.

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