A violent bully strangled his pregnant partner and told her "I hope the baby dies, I'll rip it out with a coat hanger". He later threw bleach at her and trashed her house after she hadn't cooked enough food for his mother.
Leigh Webb, 35, of Newport, had been in an on and off relationship with his victim since 2014, which she described as "toxic and abusive". A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard the victim was pregnant when an argument took place on August 31, 2020.
Prosecutor Emma Harris said Webb did not believe the child was his and placed his hands around her neck and squeezed which left her struggling to breathe. He then kicked her in the back and said "I hope the baby dies, I'll rip it out with a coat hanger". The victim did not attend hospital for fear of the defendant, but suffered bruising to her neck and back.
Read more: Drugs gang trafficked £1.6m worth of cocaine to Wales from the Midlands
The relationship came to an end following an incident on September 26, last year, when the victim came home from shopping and began preparing food. Webb asked her to prepare some food for his mother but she told him she didn't have enough food. He became angry and called the victim a "cheeky c***" and "slut" .
DON'T MISS:Police and emergency services respond to reports of man 'barricaded' inside property
Drugs gang trafficked £1.6m worth of cocaine to Wales from the Midlands
Maid of honour at wedding brings the house down with special version of Abba's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Mr Harris said: "He picked up a mop bucket containing bleach and water and threw the contents over her. He continued to shout at her, she decided to go to the downstairs bathroom to clean the bleach off her skin." Webb threw a laundry basket and shattered it on the floor. He followed her into the bathroom and turned the shower head, covering her in water before pulling a bathroom cabinet off the wall.
The defendant used the bathroom door to cause damage to the wall, pulled down hard on the lamp shades causing lightbulbs to shatter. The victim telephoned the police and Webb left but as she continued showering the bleach off her skin she heard a noise outside and could see him damaging her car, leaving two dents.
Webb, of Worcester Crescent, was arrested and admitted causing damage to the victim's home and car but he denied assaulting her. He later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating and two counts of criminal damage. The court heard he had previous convictions for battery and criminal damage from 2010, which took place in a domestic situation.
Defence barrister Georgina Buckley said her client was a father-of-three and feels genuine remorse for his actions. She said: "He said he made a mistake and wishes to take it all back." Ms Buckley said the defendant's mother died in January which caused him to suffer anxiety and depression.
Sentencing, Recorder Andrew Hammond said: "I am troubled by the fact you locked your hands around your partner's neck and kicked her. I am also troubled by the extended nature of the incident in 2021 when you threw a mixture of bleach and water onto her and caused damage to her property."
Webb was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months. He was also ordered to carry out a 10 day rehabilitation activity requirement, to attend 30 sessions of the Building Better Relationships programme, 180 hours unpaid work and to pay £1,000 in court costs.
READ NEXT:
Man suffered brain injury at Tata steelworks in Port Talbot after safety breach, jury told
- Nurse Lucy Letby killed premature baby on fourth attempt', murder trial told
Doorman switched off camera before punching customer who suffered brain injury
Man admits manslaughter of Timothy Dundon in Neath but denies murder
Drug driver with no licence injured four-year-old boy in 90mph head-on crash
You can sign up to our regular Crime and Punishment newsletter here while this interactive tool allows you to check the latest crime statistics for your area:
READ MORE: 'Delete Paypal' searches rise by 1,400 per cent after policy announcement
