A MAN from Rhyl who headbutted, kicked and suffocated his partner in a drunken attack has been jailed.
William Machin, 33, of River Street, was sentenced to 25 months’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (October 19).
He had previously admitted charges of intentional suffocation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
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Prosecuting, Emmalyne Downing told the court that Machin had been in a relationship with Samantha Machin “on and off” for the last four-and-a-half years when this incident took place on August 6.
At that time, Machin was subject to bail conditions, preventing him from attending her address and contacting her, but he breached this by staying at her Ruthin home overnight on August 5.
The following day, the two of them went to The Castle Hotel pub in Ruthin, but when they later returned to Ms Machin’s home, an argument ensued.
Machin punched and headbutted her in the face, before placing a cushion over her face as she lay on the floor.
She pretended to lose consciousness in the hope he would stop, and he told her: “If you’re not dead, you will be soon.”
He then called her a “fat s***,” before kicking her three times, and shouting: “Wake up, I’m going to do it again.”
Ms Machin lay on the floor until her neighbours, who had heard the argument, arrived at her home.
She asked the neighbours, who found Ms Machin’s face “covered in blood” to call police for her upon their arrival.
Machine was arrested at 3.35pm, and was described as appearing “very intoxicated and difficult to understand”.
Ms Machin sustained a number of injuries, including bruising to her side and one of her eyes, and sore ribs.
In a statement, she described the incident as a “terrifying nightmare” and “unforgiveable”.
She added that moving to Ruthin was meant as a “fresh start” for her, but that Machin “spoilt it”.
Defending Machin, who had 25 previous convictions for 48 offences, including six for violence, Sarah Yates conceded that her client “undoubtedly” face immediate custody.
She said she had a “very, very difficult childhood and start in life,” and suffers from psychosis which, when on medication, he can control to a “much better extent”.
Machin, appearing via videolink from custody where he had been remanded, added that he plans to move to Stoke to be nearer to his family.
Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands also imposed a five-year restraining order, banning Machin from having any contact with Ms Machin or entering Ruthin during this time.
He can also not make any reference to her on social media.
Judge Rowlands told him: “This isn’t a case which falls anywhere near the cusp of custody; far from it.
“It is impossible to avoid an immediate custodial sentence.”
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