‘This was cowardly behavior from a bully’ – suspended sentence for Oswestry man for ‘despicable’ attack on former partner

Justin Williams, 55, of Oswald Road, Oswestry, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court – sitting at Telford Justice Center after previously pleading guilty to one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the shocking incident had previously occurred in May 2023.

He told the court Williams had been in a relationship with the victim for four years but they had already separated at the time of the assault.

On the day of the attack, the victim had gone to Williams’ home just after 10 a.m.

As he entered the property, Williams said to the victim “Do you really think I have you here because I love you?”.

He then called her a ‘slug’ and a ‘whore’ before subjecting her to a vicious and terrifying attack.

During the attack, he kicked her twice in the thigh, causing her to fall to the ground.

Mr Jones said that while Williams was on the ground, he jumped on top of the woman and tried to strangle her.

He sat on her chest and pinned her arms with his knees before breaking her mobile phone and hitting her in the face with it.

As well as the physical attack, Williams also threatened his victim not to report the attack, saying ‘if you tell anyone about this I will kill you’, before adding that he would ‘gouge out’ her eyes.

Guilty plea

After his arrest, Williams denied the assault but later pleaded guilty on the day of the trial.

Mr Jones said the victim suffered bruises and scratches from the incident, but also suffered from flashbacks and constant anxiety.

In a moving victim impact statement read to the court by the victim, she explained how she had to move from the area, lost friends and feared every knock on her door.

She said: “It really changed me.”

Elizabeth Power, mitigating for Williams, said: “It appears there were some happy times in it but by the time of the events of May 2023 it was waning and we have heard about the events of that day which were unfortunate to say the least.”

She added that Williams would have “no one to blame but himself” if he were jailed for the attack.

She said Williams made a “good living” as a site manager.

‘Ex-partner treated terribly’

Judge Recorder Michelle Heeley said: “You treated your ex-partner appallingly.”

She continued: “You called her mean names and attacked her,” before adding: “This was cowardly behavior from a bully.”

Williams was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years.

As part of the sentence he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay £1,000 compensation to his victim, and £1,630 costs.

The judge also issued a 10-year restraining order.

Recorder Heeley said: “If you commit another offense within two years you will go to prison.”

She added, “I don’t want to see you anymore.”