A MAN from Rhyl strangled and threw hot gravy at his partner after becoming jealous of the amount of time she was spending with her sick father, who died three days after this incident.

Phillip Hill, 33, of East Parade, attacked Shannon Mullan, who he had been in an “on-off” relationship with for about five years, in August.

At Mold Crown Court today (October 28), Hill was jailed for 15 months, having previously admitted common assault, intentional strangulation and assault by beating.

READ MORE:

Kinmel Bay man charged with murder of woman, 69, appears in court

Father Christmas to come to Rhyl Miniature Railway – what to expect

Prosecutor Anna Price said that Hill “appeared to have an issue with the amount of attention” Ms Mullan was giving to her terminally ill father rather than him.

On August 16, Ms Mullan told Hill she was going to visit her father and then a friend; he responded to this throwing a hot pan of gravy at her and saying: “I’m f***ing sick of this.”

Upon Ms Mullan’s return home later that day, Hill “slammed pots down” in the kitchen before he “stormed upstairs” and called her a “terrible parent”.

Hill then placed both of his hands around her throat, pushed her against a wall and slapped her to the face, before pulling her to the floor after she had tried to escape.

He then used his hands and body weight to “pin down” Ms Mullan, telling her: “I’ll show you what ‘losing it’ really is.”

Ms Mullan then fled the property with her children to a neighbour’s address, and police were then contacted.

Hill, upon his arrest that evening, claimed the force he had used was in self-defence.

Three days after this incident, Ms Mullan’s father died.

Reading her victim impact statement in court today, she said she “was already under a lot of pressure” and is now scared of being alone, while her children are “scared he’ll come back and hurt me”.

Defending Hill, who had a previous conviction for driving matters, John Wyn Williams said his client “does accept some responsibility” for his actions on the evening.

Mr Wyn Williams added that alcohol abuse is Hill’s “underlying problem”.

Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “What an absolutely appalling picture. He’s aware that his partner is having to deal with the tragic end of life of her father.

“I’m truly appalled at how people can behave at times.

“She must have been terribly vulnerable, and under a huge degree of stress.”

A five-year restraining order was also made to protect Ms Mullan.