MAN BRUTALLY BEAT PARTNER WITH HER OWN CRUTCH AFTER FRACTURING HER ANKLE
A suspect who remains at large viciously assaulted his former partner using her crutches after causing a fracture to her ankle with a pool cue.He also issued threats to cut off her fingers with a pair of secateurs.
Elvis Price, aged 46, carried out repeated attacks on the woman at the Kings Arms pub in Ebbw Vale, where they both lived.
Following her ankle injury, he refused to allow her to seek hospital treatment for several weeks and instructed her to lie about the nature of her injuries.
During a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, it was revealed that the woman was seen on the street on May 10, 2022, with extensive bruising on her face and wearing a protective boot on one leg.
She appeared distressed and requested medical assistance.
Police officers approached her, but she was initially reluctant to disclose details or alert the defendant due to her fear.
She was later taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, where she was treated for facial, back, and forearm bruises, abdomen tenderness, and marks from her crutches on her upper back.
Prosecutor Byron Broadstock stated that the woman told police she had been residing at the pub with Price, even after their relationship ended, and that his new partner had also moved in.
She described Price as controlling and quick to anger, especially if he suspected she was withholding information.
On May 9, 2022, Price learned about correspondence concerning the woman’s pension and reacted with violence, slapping and punching her before kicking her when she fell.
He spat in her face multiple times and destroyed her phone, shoving it into her face.
He ordered her to gather her belongings, but when she complied, he assaulted her again, beating her with her own crutch across her shoulders, back, and sides.
When she raised her arms defensively, he told her to lower them.
He also threatened to sever her fingers using secateurs he held in his hand, and she had to move her hand to prevent him from injuring her.
Earlier incidents in April 2022 involved Price striking the victim with a pool cue in the pub’s function room, resulting in a broken ankle and bruising.
Despite her pain, she was not taken to hospital until weeks later, after complaining about severe pain, and was made to claim her injuries resulted from an accident.
After her hospital visit, the victim suffered additional assaults when Price used her crutch to strike her legs, arms, and back, causing further bruises.
He was arrested on May 10, 2022, but refused to comment during police interviews and failed to appear for his trial.
He was subsequently convicted in his absence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and three counts of assault.
He remains at large.
In a personal statement presented in court, the woman expressed that Price had tried to control her through the legal process by not attending court.
She shared her trauma, saying: "The relief of the court case going ahead didn't prepare me for the shock of seeing photographs of my injuries and how awful they were, I cried.
The beatings were so regular I became desensitised.
Seeing those injuries made me physically sick.
I have lost the person I was and I will never be that person again.
I live in daily paranoia not knowing where he is and fear for the future." Judge Dyfed Thomas labelled Price’s actions as "brutal, cowardly assaults" and sentenced him to six years in prison, a term that will be served once he is arrested by authorities.
