A MAN from Anglesey who “held hostage” his friend in a stolen van for three hours, and who assaulted his then-partner on multiple occasions, has been jailed.

Dewi Hughes, 34, of Twr Cuhelyn Street, Llanerchymedd, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (August 6).

He had previously admitted charges of intentional strangulation, assault by beating, false imprisonment, threatening a person with a bladed article in public, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, and cocaine possession.

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Prosecuting, William Griffin told the court that, by February 2023, Hughes and Catrina Jones had been in a relationship for about a year, but one which had been deteriorating.

Between December 2022 and February 2023, Hughes was physically violent to her during arguments.

In December 2022, when the couple were arguing in Hughes’ bedroom, he told her to “get out and go home”, before he grabbed her by her shoulder and pushed her against a wall.

He then squeezed her throat using both of his hands, leaving her “gasping” and “struggling to swallow”.

This incident was not reported to police at the time.

On February 21, 2023, another argument ensued, involving Hughes calling Ms Jones names before poking her in her right eye, causing her “constant pain” and bruising.

Then, on February 24, after being told by telephone of the death of a relative, Hughes was initially calm but then “began flipping”, telling Ms Jones “horrible things” such as that he “didn’t love her”.

He then grabbed her by the head and kicked her to her thigh – she called police, and shouted for help in the few seconds which the call lasted.

On January 13, 2024, Aaron Jones, a friend of Hughes’, had been “feeling low” all day and had exchanged messages with him throughout – Hughes asked if he wanted to go for a “drive”, and Mr Jones agreed.

But during the drive, Hughes became “increasingly paranoid”, asking Mr Jones if he was a “grass”.

Hughes then pulled out what appeared to be a steak knife, holding it against Mr Jones’ neck and telling him he thought was an undercover police officer.

He then directed Mr Jones on where to drive, causing him to drive at 80mph and through red lights, and taking control of the handbrake while the vehicle was moving, continuing to hold a knife against Mr Jones all the while.

The defendant also made it clear he believed they were being followed by police, and that Mr Jones’ phone was recording their conversation, though this did not appear to be the case.

Hughes later pressed Mr Jones’ face into a window of the vehicle, threatening to kill him by stabbing him in the eye, and adding that he had been “planning this for a while”.

Once the van ran out of patrol and came to a stop, Hughes was “losing it even more”, again threatening Mr Jones.

After they exited the vehicle, Mr Jones tried to run away, but Hughes grabbed him and pulled him back, before they walked away together with the knife held to Mr Jones.

Eventually, Mr Jones managed to escape, before “running for his life” and hiding in a field for between 60 and 90 minutes.

After making his way back across the field, he asked a passer-by for help, saying he had been “held hostage” in a van by a friend for three hours.

In the early hours of January 14, the same van was seen being driven at speeds of more than double the 20mph limit.

Police pursued the vehicle, until eventually Hughes got out of the van which, it transpired, did not belong to him.

He recorded a positive roadside drugs test for cocaine and cannabis, while cocaine and a knife was found inside the van.

Mr Jones said he “genuinely believed” Hughes was going to kill him, and now barricades himself in his home as a consequence.

The incident also caused him to lose his phone, which contained photos of his late daughter.

Hughes, who committed these offences during the operational period of a suspended sentence, uploaded video footage of Mr Jones’ false imprisonment to his public Snapchat story.

He had previously been disqualified from driving twice, meanwhile.

Defending Hughes, who had 10 previous convictions for 22 offences, Richard Edwards said his client was spending up to £100 a day on cocaine at the time of these matters.

Hughes, Mr Edwards said, is remorseful, and suffers from schizophrenia, but is “now in a much better state of health”.

“He’s doing all that he can to make the most of the time that he’s spending (remanded) in custody,” Mr Edwards added.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman also imposed another driving ban upon Hughes, who must then pass an extended retest before being allowed back on the roads.

Restraining orders were imposed against Ms Jones, Mr Jones, and the man whose van he stole.

Judge Saffman told him: “This incident has had a significant impact on Mr Jones. He already suffered from a significant mental disorder.

“The victim was particularly vulnerable, and you would have known this, because you knew him.”

Hughes will also pay a statutory surcharge.

Detective Inspector Richard Griffith, of North Wales Police, said: “Hughes’ violent and threatening behaviour during these separate incidents were incredibly dangerous and show that he has no regard for the safety and welfare of others.

“The victims have shown considerable bravery in coming forward to report what happened to them following traumatic and terrifying experiences.

“I hope today’s sentence provides them with the reassurance that they can move forward with their lives knowing he is no longer in the community.”