A woman lured her former partner to an isolated spot before attacking her with a claw hammer, a court has heard.
Chloe James got her ex to agree to the meeting in the remote location with the offer that she could take the defendant's dog for one last walk. But once she got her there the defendant launched the unprovoked attack - an assault which only stopped when, by chance, a car drove down the quiet lane and the victim was able to call for help.
In a statement read to Swansea Crown Court, the victim said she was not sure she would ever get over what had happened to her.
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Georgina Buckley, prosecuting, said James had been with her partner for around four years before the relationship broke down in the summer of 2020. On September 1 that year the two woman arranged to meet in an isolated spot near Llangennech in Carmarthenshire so personal items could be returned - the location was suggested by James so her ex could walk the defendant's dog, Ted, one more time.
The court heard Ted had his walk but then James began trying to cuddle her ex who responded by telling her she had to go. The prosecutor said James told her former partner she had something for her but was "embarrassed" to hand it over, and she asked her ex to turn around while she got it out of the car. When the woman's back was turned the defendant retrieved a claw hammer from the boot and hit her on the head with it a number of times. By chance another car drove down the quiet lane where the pair had parked and, despite attempts by James to stop her, the victim was able to run to the car and ask the couple inside for help.
The victim was later take to Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli by her parents where she was treated for bruising to the ears and a series of lacerations to her scalp. A CT scan showed no skull fractures. In a statement read to the court the victim said the attack had left her "struggling in everyday life" and suffering with headaches, flashbacks and nightmares. She said she never thought James would hurt her in the way she had, adding she was not sure she would ever get over what had happened. Read about a man who beat up his partner and ripped off her clothes before throwing her out of flat into the street.
In her police interview the 27-year-old defendant gave a prepared statement in which she said she had been acting in self-defence. The court that "no weapon has been forensically linked" to the incident.
Chloe James, of Heol Amman, Glanamman, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the day she was due to stand trial when she appeared in the dock for sentencing. She has no previous convictions. Andrew Evans, for James, said the defendant was genuinely remorseful for what happened.
Recorder Christian Jowett said he was satisfied from everything he had read in a pre-sentence that the term of imprisonment which was due could be properly suspended. With a 10% for her guilty plea James was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and to pay her victim £750 in compensation.
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