MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR STRANGLING FIANCÉE ON FAMILY HOLIDAY
A man named Liam Winstone, aged 34, was convicted of serious domestic violence during a family holiday in Majorca.He strangled his fiancée—who was holding their baby—after she forgot to pack his lighter.
According to reports, Winstone attacked her after she had taken her engagement ring and tried to put it in his pocket, only for him to respond by throwing it away.
Later, at their hotel, Winstone became furious when she refused to let him sleep on the bed, calling her a "fat c***" and accusing her family of being "rotten." He then proceeded to place both hands around her neck, strangling her while she was holding their child.
His grip was so tight that her vision blurred, and she believed she was about to pass out.
She shouted for him to stop because of the baby, and he eventually released her and fled the room.
She then left to get help, was taken to hospital with pain and bruising, and received painkillers for her injuries.
Winstone was later arrested upon return to the UK at Bristol Airport and taken to Cardiff Bay police station.
He admitted to the charges of intentional strangulation in court, where he was found to have previous convictions for battery, breach of a community order, and criminal damage.
The court heard a victim personal statement detailing the profound mental health impact of the assault: "Prior to being strangled I had never received any medical attention for my mental health...
I have seen the mental health team and been referred to the crisis team.
This incident has affected me and crippled me mentally." The victim described ongoing emotional distress, nightmares, panic attacks, and difficulty leaving her house due to shame and embarrassment.
The court was told that in mitigation, his defense highlighted Winstone's military service, including service in eastern Europe on NATO missions where he received a medal.
The sentencing judge, Jeremy Jenkins, condemned the assault, stating: "What started out as a lovely family holiday was turned by your actions into one of horror for her.
She thought she was going to die.
In the court’s view, any man who attacks a woman commits an offense too serious for anything less than immediate imprisonment.
It is the ultimate act of cowardice for a man to attack a woman." Winstone was sentenced to 27 months in prison and was placed under a restraining order for five years, preventing any contact with his partner.
