Woman feared she would die when partner punched, kicked and strangled her

Mold Crown Court
-Credit:Reach plc


A woman feared she would die when her partner strangled her. Brett Wilding, 26, of Bertie Road, Wrexham, had been socialising and tried to bring two friends back to the couple's home in Acrefair last July.

His partner, who had been looking after her baby, refused to let his friends into their home, and Wilding became violent. He admitted strangulation and assault causing actual bodily harm against the woman.

A judge at Mold Crown Court today gave the defendant a 20-month jail term suspended for 18 months for the strangulation charge. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

READ MORE: 'Appeal likely' after plan to demolish home before new estate built is refused

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Dog walker dies five weeks after being hit by cyclist who fled scene

Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told the court Wilding had been out socialising but when he returned with his two companions it had been a surprise to his partner. Their son was in bed and she said they couldn't come in.

Wilding said: "Don't make a fool of me in front of my friends." He "shoved" her outside with his friends driving away. He said she had "made a fool out of him" but she said that wasn't fair. However he then "charged" at her in a nearby field area, grabbed her hair and punched her in the eye twice.

She curled up in a ball but he kicked her in the ribs and arms. She stood up and tried to get back to their baby in the house, attempting to ring her mother as she went.

But Wilding "charged" at her again, knocking her to the ground in the street. He said he would "smash her head in" if she tried to ring her mother again.

ADVERTISEMENT

She ran towards a football pitch but Wilding got on top of her. He gripped her neck and she felt he was going to kill her, said the prosecutor. She bit his hand before two neighbours and the victim's father came to help.

Myles Wilson, defending, said Wilding "knows he lost control" but is "motivated to change". The judge His Honour Niclas Parry said it had been a prolonged incident.

Imposing the suspended prison sentence the judge also ordered Wilding to do 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 35 sessions of a treatment programme and do ten days of rehabilitation activity.

There was also a three-year restraining order prohibiting Wilding from contacting his victim except through social services or a solicitor over access to their child. There was no separate penalty for the assault.

Find crime figures for your area