MAN JAILED FOR PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE
A former officer of the British Army has been sentenced to prison after attempting to convince his ex-partner to retract an allegation against him.Kyle Whittaker, who was prohibited from contacting her, violated this order when he tried to persuade her to drop the case.
Whittaker, aged 29 and residing on Longford Terrace in Holyhead, received a seven-week sentence at Caernarfon Crown Court for attempting to obstruct justice.
He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Catherine Chong-Kwan and her friend Caine Jones-Williams during a subsequent incident.
The court ordered concurrent prison terms for each assault.
Prosecutor Elen Owen explained that Whittaker and Ms Chong-Kwan had been in a relationship lasting two years.
During her recent holiday on July 11 last year, she discovered that he had taken a T-shirt from her home.
She contacted law enforcement, and Whittaker was interviewed under caution.
Despite being released on bail with a condition not to contact her, he sent her a WhatsApp message on July 15, requesting that she withdraw the case.
Court records revealed that the pair exchanged messages, with Ms Chong-Kwan feeling guilty and worried about his mental health, fearing he might harm himself.
She was back from her holiday and had planned to visit him at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor for assessment, but during the drive, he experienced a breakdown, and she returned home.
The following day, she was with Mr Jones-Williams and later returned home.
Whittaker then drove up, shouting and “losing control,” according to court reports.
He exited his vehicle abruptly and physically assaulted Ms Chong-Kwan, pushing her against a wall and causing a facial injury, with a nail on her finger ripped off and bleeding.
He also pushed Mr Jones-Williams, described as her long-term friend.
Ms Chong-Kwan stated in a court statement that she no longer felt safe with Whittaker, adding she deserved happiness but felt she was made to suffer.
The defence, represented by Ember Wong, acknowledged Whittaker was dealing with the breakup’s emotional toll.
She emphasised the WhatsApp contact was brief and lacked any threats or harmful language.
Wong also highlighted his 12 years of service in the British Army, citing a positive reference, and described him as respectful, noting his help to a fellow veteran with mobility issues.
Currently taking antidepressants, Whittaker was sentenced to seven weeks for attempting to pervert justice.
Additionally, he received four-week concurrent sentences for each assault and was issued a two-year Domestic Abuse Protection Order, barring him from contacting Ms Chong-Kwan.
