Oswestry man, 37, jailed for attack on girlfriend

Gareth Ellis, 37, had lost his temper during a row after the couple had been out drinking with friends.

Ellis was jailed for a total of 12 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court, having admitted causing his then-girlfriend actual bodily harm.

Ellis, of Marsland Close, St Martins, Oswestry, had also admitted damaging a mobile phone and using violence to enter a property on December 23.

Judge Peter Barrie said reports indicated Ellis was an amiable person when sober but was violent when he lost his temper and self control and had drunk too much.

He said Ellis had convictions in 2007 and 2009 for assaults on partners and two further cautions for assault.

"It is a nasty habit and an aggravating feature in this case," he said. "It must have been frightening for (her) when, having left, you returned and forced yourself back into the flat."

Mr Nicholas Wadsworth, prosecuting, said there was a row when Ellis blamed the victim because her dog had urinated in the hall of her Shrewsbury flat.

"The defendant lit a cigarette and threw the lighter at her, striking her in the face, leaving her bottom lip bleeding and swollen," he said. He told Friday's hearing that Ellis was abusive to the woman and left the room and was packing his clothes but returned to the living room.

"He threw (her) mobile phone at her as she sat on the sofa. It hit her in the face causing a cut on her forehead," he said.

When she told Ellis to leave he grabbed her by the hair and put is other hand on her neck and forced her against a wall .

Mr Brendan Reedy, for Ellis, said his client was ashamed for what he had done.