## Cardiff Man Jailed After Orchestrating Prolonged Abuse Campaign Against Partner
A Cardiff man has been imprisoned after subjecting his partner to what a judge described as a “campaign of aggression and violence,” which spanned more than three years. John Joseph McEvoy, 34, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court for a series of offences including coercive control, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional suffocation, and making threats to kill.
The court heard harrowing details of McEvoy’s conduct towards his partner, which began after the pair entered a relationship in April 2022. Initially, prosecutors said, the relationship appeared positive, but McEvoy’s behaviour soon turned dark. Driven by deep-seated jealousy, he became verbally abusive before escalating to physical violence. According to evidence outlined in court, he repeatedly assaulted his partner, at one stage fitting a tracking device to her car to monitor her movements without her knowledge.
In one disturbing incident at a Swansea hotel, McEvoy hurled a tea cup at his partner’s head, resulting in an injury. The following day, matters escalated further as he returned armed with machetes and is said to have sent threatening messages and videos to her mobile phone. Further violence ensued during a stay in Cardiff, where he attacked her feet with a kettle and struck her on the head using a bottle of perfume.
The abuses were not limited to physical attacks. The court heard that McEvoy subjected his partner to repeated threats, at one point arming himself with a kitchen knife and chillingly stating he would “scar” her for life, and suggesting he would send associates to harm her. His victim described living in constant fear, never certain what mood he would be in when he woke up.
Matters came to a head after McEvoy followed the complainant to her family home in Essex, where he threatened to stab her before smashing the windscreen of her car. On returning to Wales, he entered her flat, taped explicit items to the walls, and sent photos to her mother. Later, he insisted his partner undertake lie detector tests to “prove” her fidelity, prolonging her ordeal.
Christmas Eve saw further violence erupt in the victim’s home. An argument led McEvoy to pin her down and use a pillow to suffocate her, causing her to panic and struggle to breathe. The relationship finally ended in March, after he made repeated threats against her, including threats to stab her, and subjected her to degrading verbal abuse.
Upon arrest, McEvoy offered no comment to police during interview. A statement from the complainant, read out in court, revealed the catastrophic impact of his abuse. She described herself as “an emotional wreck,” struggling with day-to-day life, and desperate to remove McEvoy and his associates from her and her family’s lives.
Representing McEvoy, barrister Tim Naylor referenced his client’s recent heavy drinking, the break-up of a previous marriage, and the deaths of close relatives as background to his behaviour. He said McEvoy came from a close-knit Traveller family and noted the potential, albeit remote, for him to reconcile with his estranged wife.
Judge Huw Rees, passing sentence, observed the high risk McEvoy posed to future partners and condemned his campaign of psychological and physical abuse. He told him, “Your pathetic jealousy says more about you than about her,” and commented on the grave impact on his victim’s wellbeing.
Taking account of McEvoy’s guilty pleas, the court imposed a custodial sentence of 41 months. Under current sentencing guidelines, he may serve up to half in prison before being released on licence.
This case highlights the seriousness with which the courts now treat coercive and controlling behaviour in relationships. Domestic abuse charities in Wales, including the Live Fear Free helpline, urge anyone experiencing similar abuse to seek confidential support. These services offer round-the-clock advice, help with safety planning, and referrals to safe accommodation where needed.
The case stands as a sobering reminder of the invisible suffering endured by many victims, often behind closed doors. The court’s verdict affirms the importance of recognising and acting upon all forms of domestic abuse, not just those that leave physical scars.