A MAN from Gwynedd caused “serious harm” to his partner through months of physical and emotional abuse.

Mark Marsh called Amy Jones derogatory names and strangled her repeatedly during their relationship, which lasted a little more than a year.

Today (November 8), Marsh, 47, of Frankwell Street, Tywyn, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period, at Caernarfon Crown Court (sitting at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court).

He had previously admitted controlling and coercive behaviour.

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Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said that Mark’s relationship with Ms Jones, which lasted from May 2022 to June 2023, initially started well, but soon deteriorated.

Ms Jones described herself as an “independent person” who was happy to spend time on her own, but Marsh was said to be “intense” and “jealous”.

Marsh monitored Ms Jones’ interactions with others, disrupted her sleep, and assaulted her on numerous occasions, including putting her hands around her throat or over her mouth three times.

He also called her names, and caused her to suffer cuts and bruises from his assaults.

On one occasion, Marsh threw Ms Jones to the floor before placing one of his hands across her mouth and the other around her neck.

After this happened, she shouted for help out of a window, which Marsh then closed, but a neighbour heard and contacted police, who subsequently arrested him.

Defending Marsh, who was of previous good character, Richard Edwards said much of his offending stemmed from his alcohol intake, which he has since reduced.

Marsh, Mr Edwards added, is a self-employed roofer with stable accommodation.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Jones deemed Marsh capable of rehabilitation, so agreed to suspend his custodial sentence.

But she attached a “robust package of both punishment and rehabilitation” for him to complete.

She told him: “This offence is incredibly serious.

“It underlines the basic issues you have with women, in particular with women with whom you are in a relationship, when things go wrong.”

Marsh will complete 10 days’ rehabilitation activity, a 35-session accredited programme, 120 days of monitored alcohol abstinence, and 200 hours’ unpaid work.

A 10-year restraining order was also made to protect Ms Jones.