A violent and jealous man from Bridgend has been sentenced to prison for a brutal attack on his partner during a holiday in Majorca, where he strangled her until she could not breathe.
The Holiday Attack
Swansea Crown Court heard that the relationship between Shaun Hill and his partner had initially been positive, but it quickly deteriorated as he became increasingly jealous and paranoid. His behaviour escalated to the point where he would unexpectedly appear when she was socialising with friends.
The situation reached a critical point while the couple were on holiday in Spain. The court was told that Hill, under the influence of alcohol, attacked his partner. He strangled her to the point where she was unable to speak and struggled to breathe, despite her pleas for him to stop.
The Path to Justice
Following the terrifying ordeal, the victim confided in a friend about the assault. The friend, deeply concerned for her safety, took the crucial step of contacting the police.
This intervention led to the arrest of Shaun Hill, of Philip Drive, Bryntirion. Although he initially denied the allegations during his police interview, he later admitted to two counts of intentional strangulation when he appeared for sentencing.
Sentencing and Police Response
Judge David Aubrey KC sentenced Hill to 41 months in prison. Due to his guilty pleas, he is expected to serve half of this sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
The court also imposed a five-year restraining order, legally prohibiting Hill from contacting his former partner.
South Wales Police Constable Adrien Kiernan, speaking after the sentencing, condemned Hill's abhorrent behaviour. He expressed relief that Hill is now in prison and poses no threat to others.
He also praised the victim for speaking out and highlighted the vital role her friend played: "The victim in this case spoke to a friend whose intervention marked the beginning of the end of the abuse." He added that confiding in a trusted person can be the first step for victims to escape a desperate and frightening situation.
