A MAN from Rhyl who pushed his then-partner down a staircase before repeatedly punching and stamping on her has been jailed.

Danny Markland, 35, of Laburnum Drive, was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (January 8).

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Prosecuting, Karl Scholz told the court that Markland formed a relationship with Stacey Smith in about May of 2022, having met while on a night out in Prestatyn.

From an early stage in their relationship, Mr Scholz said, her efforts to maintain a positive relationship with the father of her daughter was a “source of resentment” for Markland.

Markland began making unpleasant remarks to her, before acting violently towards her as time went on.

On December 23, 2022, after she had arranged to meet a friend, Markland pushed her down stairs, then punched her repeatedly to her face and head while she lay on the floor.

He then stamped on her shin and left foot numerous times, causing bruising, and leaving her walking with a limp.

After she told her family about his behaviour some time after, police arrested Markland on January 31, 2023, when his mobile phone was seized from him.

Markland gave no comment in his police interview, before remanded on bail under the condition that he did not contact her.

Despite this, Markland met Ms Smith on a further 20 occasions between February and July 2023, while “plainly aware that what he was doing was wrong”.

She told police that she no longer wished to see him, but later retracted the statement she gave having said she was “pressured” by him to do so.

Contact continued for two weeks after the retraction; he stayed at her address on July 8, before assaulting her again the following morning.

Markland and Ms Smith were in her car when, while drinking vodka from the bottle, he spat at her twice, said she “would never get anyone better” than him, and struck her to the face several times.

He was later re-arrested and remanded in custody.

In a statement, Ms Smith said Markland “manipulated” her, and feels relief that she no longer has to ask for permission, or justify, speaking to or visiting friends.

Defending Markland, Ryan Rothwell invited the court to suspend his custodial sentence, having now spent six months in custody on remand.

Mr Rothwell said Markland was a man with “limited previous convictions”, with “no violence on his record”.

Markland has also “complied well with previous orders”, and has shown a “willingness to comply with alcohol abstinence monitoring requirements”, Mr Rothwell added.

He was said to suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and had never previously experienced custody, but has a “network of support” in place to help him.

Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Markland, who spent much of the hearing with his head in hands or rested on a table, that his behaviour was “disgusting” and “revolting”.

Judge Rowlands said he is “not a man of good character,” and “someone who plainly drinks too much”.

He added: “I don’t believe that there is realistic punishment which can be achieved in the community.”

Markland will also adhere to a three-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting Ms Smith directly or indirectly, or attending her address.

In addition, he will pay a statutory surcharge upon his release from prison.