Wrexham man spared jail for violent attack on ex-partner

Matthew Evans had visited his ex to fit a security chain on her front door, but after refusing the leave he attacked her and only stopped when she banged on a wall to alert her neighbours.

He later returned to the property in Ellesmere, but left when she said police were on their way.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Monday (September 14), the 34-year-old, of Mayflower Drive, Wrexham, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for intentional strangulation and assault by beating, after he changed his plea to guilty on the morning of his trial.

But Judge Deni Mathews said he would suspend the sentence for two years due to Evans' prospects of rehabilitation.

Caroline Harris, prosecuting, told the court how Evans and the victim had begun a relationship in March 2024. He moved into her home about a week later.

In July 2024, an argument broke out resulting in her asking him to leave. He then sent her a series of abusive messages in which he made remarks such as "I'll smash your face in" and "You deserve to get the sh** kicked out of you". The victim then ended the relationship.

A few weeks later, at the end of September, he spent a few nights sleeping on her sofa.

Then on October 1, he visited at around midday to fit a security chain. The pair were both drinking, and discussion about their relationship descended into an argument.

The victim had repeatedly asked him to leave, but when she asked at around 9.30pm, Ms Harris said Evans "approached the victim quickly."

She continued: "He grabbed her by the neck, causing her to fall over. He used one arm to hold her down by the neck, cutting off her airway, while he punched her repeatedly in the face.

"She began to bang on the wall which adjoined a neighbouring property and he stopped."

The victim ran upstairs and called 999 but Evans grabbed the phone. She then told him to leave. He returned a short time later, but she told him the police were coming and he left.

Police later tracked down Evans on his bike at around 11.20pm. He said in interview that it was self-defence, then gave no comment answers.

Kevin Jones, defending, told the court that in one statement the victim said she could not remember if her airway had been closed off.

He added: "[Evans] has had to look at his own behaviour which he has reflected on. He is not saying it was six of one side, half-a-dozen of the other, but his recollection of the relationship is different to hers.

"He accepts this is his responsibility. He does accept that he has pleaded guilty on the full facts."

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Judge Mathews accepted that "positive work can be done" with Mathews and that he wants to get back into work.

But referring to the positive references from Evans' family members, he continued: "It's clear from them you are a decent man. You are effectively of good character. But in the pre-sentence report there is precious little by way of remorse or insight.

"It's telling that those references are not from former partners. So it seems on everything I have heard and read, that although you are a decent man to your family and other people, to partners in the event that they take a different view, you are someone who will resort to violence; you are a bully, you are a violent bully."

Alongside the suspended sentence, Evans must complete up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days with the Probation Service, 175 hours of unpaid work, and he must pay a victim surcharge and £1,630 court costs.