A man who grabbed his partner by the throat and dragged her into the bathroom before throwing her into the bath has been jailed, a court heard.
Sean Lewis, 33, a caretaker at a firm of solicitors, threatened to kill his girlfriend before laughing at her and trashing her home.
Attack in Port Talbot
Craig Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that on February 8 this year, Lewis and his partner went to Taibach rugby club in Port Talbot before returning to the woman's property.
Later that evening, the partner heard banging from the kitchen and asked what was going on. Lewis responded by grabbing her around the neck and dragging her into the downstairs bathroom, where he threw her into the empty bath. The grip was so tight the woman struggled to breathe.
The court heard Lewis threatened to kill his partner before pulling her from the bath and throwing her to the floor, causing her to strike her head on the sink. He then laughed at her and told her to get up.
Child witnessed assault
One of the woman's children heard his mother shouting for help and witnessed part of the assault. The shoeless woman fled to a neighbour's house, from where she called the police. Lewis remained in the house and smashed her possessions, including the TV and fridge.
Police arrested Lewis in the living room of the property.
Sentencing
Lewis, of Gwendoline Street, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to strangulation and criminal damage. He has no previous convictions.
Sarah John, for Lewis, said the lateness of the guilty pleas was due to the shame he felt and his fear of consequences. She said he had demonstrated he could lead a pro-social life and had been working as a caretaker, but realised the conviction might change that.
The barrister said while there could be no complaints if the defendant was handed a sentence of immediate imprisonment, she invited the court to consider a more "constructive" alternative.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told Lewis that after drinking around seven pints of lager, he had attacked his girlfriend in her own home in an assault witnessed by a child. The judge noted the defendant had denied responsibility in his pre-sentence report, and said any expressions of remorse "ring rather hollow".
Judge Thomas said the offending was too serious to justify anything other than immediate custody. With a 15% discount for his guilty pleas, Lewis was sentenced to 26 months in prison. He will serve 40% of the sentence in custody before being released on licence.
A six-year restraining order was also imposed.
