A Morriston man who locked his former partner inside her own home after taking her phone and keys has been jailed for three years.
She was rescued only when she managed to open a window and shout for help, and a neighbour called the police, South Wales Police said.
Daniel Green, 35, of Martin Street, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting false imprisonment, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker.
Morriston woman locked in for hours after Green took her phone
The court heard the pair had been together for around two years, and an order was in place banning them from seeing each other. In July, Green asked if he could come and stay at her home.
On 5 July he went through her phone, found a message from another man on social media and accused her of cheating. The court heard he hit her in the face with an electric fan and punched her on the nose, making it bleed.
Three days later, drunk and still convinced she was being unfaithful, he screamed at her and would not let her leave in the early hours.
She climbed out of a downstairs window, but he caught her by the arm and pulled her back inside, the court heard.
Police say he punched her in the face several times, took her phone and smashed it, then took her keys.
She was locked in for between four and six hours before a neighbour saw her at the window and phoned the police. When officers arrived, she was at an upstairs window telling them she could not get out.
Female officer headbutted during Green’s arrest
Green refused to walk to the police car and asked for alcohol instead, the court heard. When he did move, he headbutted a female officer and kicked out at her.
Victim now “struggles to leave the house”
In a statement read to the court, the woman said she has nightmares every day and suffers extreme anxiety attacks when she goes out. “I never wanted any of this to happen, all I wanted from Daniel was his love,” she said.
The court heard Green had 10 previous offences, including convictions in a domestic setting, although he had last been before the courts in 2015.
His barrister said he was alcohol dependent at the time, has mental health problems and was sorry for what he had done.
Judge Catherine Richards jailed him for three years, with false imprisonment as the lead offence.
Police: Green “clearly poses great danger to women”
Sergeant Penny Romanello said Green was “a violent offender who clearly poses great danger to women”.
She said: “Like many domestic abusers, he was frequently paranoid about the victim being unfaithful. But he was the true threat to their relationship due to his violence.”
She said Green had left the woman “frightened and a shadow of her former self”, and that the psychological effects of his abuse would be long-lasting.
Drink was no excuse, she added: “This was repeated domestic abuse which nobody should have to endure. His behaviour was completely out of control, and for that reason, prison is the only suitable place for him.”
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, the Live Fear Free helpline is open 24 hours a day on 0808 80 10 800.
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