A thug was recorded repeatedly punching his partner in the face during a 999 call to police after he ripped the phone from her but forgot to hang up.
Matthew Davies, 36, viciously beat his then-girlfriend Felicity Norman at her Merthyr Tydfil home on March 19 after waking her up with a punch to the face while she was asleep in bed.
During the assault she called police and the operator heard the defendant's punches making contact with Ms Norman, her pleading for him to stop, and her telling Davies: "I think you've broken my jaw." He also threatened to "burn her house down" and later told police she "f****** needed a hiding".
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Davies and Ms Norman had been in a relationship for 12 months but in August last year she was assaulted by him. The defendant was given a six-week custodial sentence and was made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting her. But prosecutor Laurence Jones said the restraining order was lifted in October at the victim's request and the couple reconciled.
Detailing the facts of the latest assault, Mr Jones said: "Felicity Norman was in bed asleep and was awoken by the defendant punching her face while she was lying flat out on her bed. This punch was for no particular reason. They hurt her and she screamed every time they landed on her face.
"She said 'Why are you punching me?' and was obviously upset. She tried to leave the bedroom but the defendant leaned over her and punched her to the rib cage area causing her pain."
Ms Norman called the police before the defendant ripped the phone from her grasp but over the next 18 minutes the assault was recorder by the 999 operator.
The barrister added: "It's a difficult listen. It's clear the assault continued by forceful punches, which you can hear on the recording, to the victim's face and body and she reacts in pain and pleads with him to stop.
"He fluctuates between him accusing her of having an affair and hitting her, to pleading with her not to tell the police it was him who assaulted her and telling her he loves her, before going back to punching her again".
Davies also threatened to smash a bottle of wine over Ms Norman's head, which was followed by a particularly loud thud, and then Ms Norman can be heard saying: "I think you've broken my jaw."
When the police arrived the victim begged them to get the defendant out of the house and he could be heard telling her to tell the police she had fallen.
The officers described Ms Norman's face as "swollen" and she had difficulty speaking due to her injuries.
As she explained the assault to the police Davies said: "I'll burn your house down when I get out" and: "What are you on about you f****** s***?". Upon his arrest he said: "I don't give a f*** butt, whatever, I'm ready to go back to prison. I am dying anyway. I have got cancer so nothing means s***".
He also made further threats to Ms Norman, saying: "You watch – I'll burn your f***** house down, you don't know who you're f****** with. I'm the traveller boy – I'll burn you and your kids down".
The victim was taken to hospital and was due to have an MRI scan but left hospital before it could take place. The court heard she had significant swelling to her face and had to use a straw to eat following the assault.
In her victim personal statement to the court Ms Norman said: "I am absolutely terrified of Davies – he has caused me so much distress. I have given him so many opportunities yet he has betrayed my trust.
"Imagine lying in bed asleep to be woken up by being punched in the face. I was petrified. I am in so in fear of Davies I keep taking him back because I am worried about what he will do if I don't. I am worried if I don't take him back he will kill me. He has this hold over me because if I don't I know I might not live another day."
Davies, of White Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, initially denied the offence and claimed someone else had assaulted Ms Norman but he later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
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The court heard he had a number of previous convictions including seven offences against the person that took place in a domestic setting.
Defence barrister Andrew Kendal acknowledged his client's offence was an "unpleasant incident" but referred to Davies' ill health, having been diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma – a growth on the brain – which is due to be operated on.
Sentencing, Recorder Paul Hopkins QC said: "I am satisfied there was deliberate targeting by you of someone who amounted to being a vulnerable person who you had previously perpetrated violence against. She was on her own and particularly vulnerable."
Davies was sentenced 20 months imprisonment.
