A MAN who assaulted his ex-partner on seven separate occasions, including dragging her by the hair along a street in Rhyl before throwing her into a shop window, has been jailed.

Steven Halliday, 45, of Shaw, Oldham was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (June 4).

He had previously admitted a charge of controlling and coercive behaviour.

READ MORE:

Dog which caused ‘appalling’ injuries at Kinmel Bay pub to be put down

New Dyserth community choir holds first practice event

Prosecuting, Laura Knightly told the court that Halliday and the woman began a relationship in March 2021, but it deteriorated as his “behaviour later changed”.

During the relationship, Halliday contacted her constantly, became jealous of any contact she had through her job with other males, called her names, and physically assaulted her.

After an argument in January 2022, Halliday punched her to the face, causing her to fall to the floor, while later that month, he caused damage to her wardrobe by punching it.

The following month, he pushed her out of the hotel room he was staying in after she had asked him to give her money for the damage he had caused to the wardrobe.

In May 2022, Halliday took a drink out of her hand and threw it on the floor, which she then slipped on before he later kicked her to her back.

A day later, while at a caravan in Anglesey together, Halliday pushed her before she managed to escape and drive home.

Then, in July 2022, Halliday poured coffee over her; she recalled it “burning her face,” before she was then pushed by Halliday, causing her to slip.

In August 2022, the two had been at a pub in Rhyl together when Halliday, intoxicated, assaulted her in the view of the public.

He then walked along Queen Street holding the victim by her hair, despite her shouting at him to “get off me”.

Halliday was said to have “pushed and shoved her along the road,” while other members of the public witnessing it also told him to stop.

To one witness, Halliday said: “What are you going to do about it?,” before he “thrust her (the victim) forward and smacked her head into a shop window”.

A witness recalled this causing a “tremendous bang”, and the victim suffered a black eye, swelling to the nose, and bruising and soreness to her other eye as a result.

Tearfully reading her victim statement aloud in court today, she said: “The past three years were the worst three years of my life, mentally, physically and emotionally.

“I lie awake at night, as I don’t want to close my eyes, because I never know what to expect through the door. I live in fear. I don’t even feel safe in my own home.

“I just want the old me back. My life will never be the same again. I will take this heartache to the grave with me.”

Defending Halliday, whose three previous convictions were all for motoring matters, Eve Salter told the court that he is a father and in full-time employment.

Halliday was said to struggle with alcohol issues, meanwhile.

Ms Salter said he has not re-offended since these incidents, had not received a prison sentence before, and wishes to “stay away” from the victim and “not cause her any more upset”.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Mills also imposed a 10-year restraining order, prohibiting Halliday from contacting the victim for that period of time.

He told Halliday: "The harm you've done is apparent from seeing the complainant in court today.

"She clearly feared violence at your hands on a number of occasions."