MAN ATTACKED PARTNER AFTER DRAGGING HER INTO ALLEY
A man from St Asaph left his former partner fearing for her life as he bit, punched and headbutted her in an alleyway in Denbigh.At the time of committing his recent offence, Craig Berry was serving a suspended sentence related to a previous attack on a former partner in Flintshire.
The 39-year-old resident of Spring Gardens Holiday Park was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison by Caernarfon Crown Court on October 21.
The court also found that Berry had violated the terms of his suspended sentence on three separate occasions.
Berry had previously admitted to charges including coercive control, intentional strangulation, bodily harm, assault, theft, and making threats to kill.
Prosecutor Catherine Elvin explained that Berry and his then-girlfriend, Toni Field, had been cohabiting since autumn 2024 but that his conduct had become violent and abusive.
One violent episode involved him pressing his thumbs into her neck at her residence, where she told him she was unable to breathe.
His response was allegedly, “Good.
Die.” Another incident in early March 2025 saw him push a friend of Ms Field’s while the couple was out walking.
On March 13, a dispute occurred at The Vaults pub in Denbigh, leading Berry to drag Ms Field into an alley, biting her on her arm, face, and ear.
He also punched, headbutted, and held her neck tightly during the altercation.
Despite her attempts to calm him by apologizing and stating she was struggling to breathe, he continued hitting her and threatened to kill her.
Berry confiscated her mobile phone to prevent her from calling assistance.
She eventually escaped and contacted police from her mother’s house.
Later that day, Berry attempted to force entry into Ms Field’s home but was unsuccessful.
Authorities arrested him after he was found hiding in a garden.
Ms Field shared in her statement that her life has become “much calmer” without Berry, but she also described feeling “like a shell of who I once was” and expressed fears about being alone, all compounded by her existing medical issues.
Lawyer Sarah Yates, representing Berry who has a criminal record with seven convictions over twelve offences commented that he has led a chaotic life and has been exposed to alcohol and drugs from a young age, partly due to ADHD.
Since his detention in March, Berry has avoided intoxicants, found work, and used prison facilities for reading and exercise.
Yates added that the prison routine has positively impacted him, and he now shows remorse and shame for his actions.
The judge emphasised to Berry that he targeted a vulnerable woman with health vulnerabilities and imposed five-year restraining orders to shield Ms Field and her children from further harm.
