Man struck his partner and held pillow on her face

A MAN held a pillow over his partner's face and punched her repeatedly.

- PHILIP DEWEY

The victim thought she was going to die and armed herself with a kitchen knife.

Matthew Clarke, 41, assaulted his partner at her home in Tredegar on October 29 last year.

He breached bail conditions after turning up at her house. While there, he accused her of cheating on him and was physically abusive towards her to the point she took hold of a knife in order to protect herself.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard the defendant entered the victim's home at 1.30pm, while she was showering, and he was aggressive towards her.

He accused the victim of cheating and smashed her phone against a bathroom radiator before throwing it at her.

Later that day, the victim was in bed and she told Clarke to leave, but he picked up a can of cider and hit her to the head with it before drinking it.

He then shook another can and opened it over her, before also pouring another can over her. He claimed she owed him money and she responded by throwing a remote control at him.

Prosecutor Amelia Pike said Clarke returned to the victim's home at 10.30pm and he entered her bedroom, where he was shouting and aggressive towards her.

The defendant continued to accuse her of being unfaithful, which she denied.