A thug strangled his partner and punched her in the cheek after she asked for her money back which he wanted to buy Valium. A neighbour intervened during the assault to distract the attacker from committing more violence.
Lee Anthony, 49, was described "turning red" and "gritting his teeth" during the assault on his partner outside her home in Treforest, Pontypridd, on March 25. The victim thought she was "going to die" after feeling like she was unable to breathe.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the defendant and his sister were at the home of the victim. He had already taken Valium that morning but started an argument about him wanting money to buy some more.
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Prosecutor Laurence Jones said Anthony began shouting and throwing items so the victim gave him £20 and his sister gave him £5. He left but his partner changed her mind and wanted her money back so went after him.
The argument continued outside her home and Anthony grabbed her by the neck against her front door. She said he looked "really angry" as he squeezed her neck hard. Mr Jones said: "She felt she was going to die and felt she had no more air left in her lungs."
At this point, one of the victim's neighbours intervened and told Anthony to stop. Prior to that, the neighbour described hearing a commotion outside his property and when he looked out the window he saw the defendant grabbing the victim's neck and swinging punches, which connected with her cheek and jaw.
The neighbour went into the street while his wife called the police and he saw Anthony strangle the victim a second time, with his left hand gripping her throat. He went up the stairs and shouted at the defendant to try and distract him, and described Anthony as "red in the face" and "gritting his teeth" as he strangled the victim.
The victim was heard shouting "Get off me, get off me" as the defendant was strangling her. The neighbour could see red scratch marks on his neck and a bruise on her right cheek.
Anthony, of Wood Road, Treforest, fled before the police arrived but he was later arrested and provided a "no comment" interview. He later pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault by beating. The court also heard he had a number of previous convictions for violence including causing grievous bodily harm, witness intimidation, assault of emergency workers, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.
In mitigation, James Evans said his client had "long standing problems" with alcohol and when sat in prison sober, he regretted his actions. He said the defendant had been trying to address his issues in prison and planned to move from the Treforest area following his release.
Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "This was a pretty cowardly assault born out of controlling behaviour and affected by the Valium you had taken."
Anthony was sentenced to a total of 18 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order for five years.
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