**Tredegar Man Jailed After Suffocating Partner During Violent Attack**
A man from Tredegar has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after subjecting his partner to a terrifying assault in which she feared for her life. Matthew Clarke, aged 41, was found guilty at Newport Crown Court for a sustained attack that left his victim with physical injuries and enduring psychological trauma, highlighting ongoing concerns around domestic violence.
The harrowing incident occurred on 29 October last year at the woman’s home. Clarke, in direct violation of his bail conditions, turned up at the property and accused the woman of being unfaithful. The situation escalated rapidly as he smashed her mobile phone against a bathroom radiator before hurling it at her. Later, while in her bedroom, he struck her with a can of cider and poured alcohol over her. The victim resorted to self-defence, arming herself with a knife in the hope of deterring further violence.
Prosecutor Amelia Pike told the court that after leaving the property earlier in the day, Clarke returned at around 10:30pm, entering the woman’s bedroom and continuing his aggressive verbal tirade. Ignoring her pleas for him to leave, he began assaulting her repeatedly, first with his fists and then by pinning her arms and pushing a pillow over her face. According to evidence, he suffocated her with the pillow on several occasions, punching through it as she struggled to breathe.
The victim later described her fear and sense of helplessness during the attack, saying she thought she would not survive. After the violence temporarily ceased, Clarke told her he “loved and hated” her before striking her again. She managed to escape to the kitchen, attempting to remove herself from further harm, but Clarke threatened more violence if she did not return to the bedroom. In a desperate move, the woman retrieved a kitchen knife, but the situation remained tense until police arrived at the scene. Officers were nearby responding to an unrelated incident and intervened after hearing her calls for help. Clarke was arrested on the spot.
Following the attack, the victim suffered a black eye and severe bruising. In a personal statement to the court, she revealed the significant mental health impacts of the ordeal. She described experiencing ongoing flashbacks, insomnia, and acute anxiety. “I started having flashbacks and when I walked out the flat I never went back,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep because I thought he was going to get me again or kill me.” The trauma has also led to suicide attempts and a loss of trust in others, as she stated: “I can’t trust a man near me or even my own family.”
Clarke, who has a lengthy criminal record with 19 previous convictions including prior offences of violence, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm as well as two counts of criminal damage. His history includes breaches of suspended sentences, indicating a pattern of repeated offending.
In mitigation, defence counsel Gareth Williams pointed to a difficult upbringing marked by instability, alcoholism, and periods of homelessness, suggesting these factors may have contributed to Clarke’s behaviour. Nevertheless, Judge Daniel Williams sentenced him to two years and ten months in custody, imposing a restraining order for ten years to protect the victim and prevent further contact.
This distressing case brings attention to the pervasive issue of domestic violence and its devastating impact on survivors. Both the Live Fear Free helpline (0808 80 10 800) and Refuge (0808 808 9999) continue to provide free, confidential support to individuals affected by domestic abuse in Wales and across the UK.
As the justice system responds to such cases, advocacy groups stress the need for community awareness and support networks. Those experiencing abuse are urged to seek help, with a range of services available round the clock to offer advice, emergency accommodation, and practical assistance.
Clarke’s imprisonment and long-term restraining order serve as a reminder of the legal repercussions for perpetrators, while his victim’s powerful testimony underscores the long journey to recovery faced by survivors of domestic violence.