**Man Sentenced After Two Bedside Assaults on Former Partner**
A man from Neath Port Talbot has been sentenced to a year in prison after two violent attacks on his now former partner, both incidents taking place while the pair were in bed. The sentencing was delivered at Swansea Crown Court, following harrowing details that emerged about the sustained assaults and subsequent threats made by the defendant to dissuade his then partner from alerting the authorities.
Adam Walters, aged 35 and residing on Heol Penlan, Longford, was found guilty of two separate assaults. The court was told that the first attack occurred on the evening of January 29 this year. Following an argument, Walters’ partner tried to put an end to the confrontation by turning her back to him and attempting to sleep. Instead of letting tensions subside, Walters lashed out, kicking his partner out of bed. The force of the assault caused her to hit her head against the wall, resulting in visible bruising and a lump.
Just a week later, on February 5, Walters again perpetrated violence against the same woman, this time sparked by another argument which the prosecution stated was because the complainant refused intimacy. The court heard Walters became enraged, clenching his teeth visibly. Reacting to his aggression, his partner placed her hands near his face, at which point Walters punched her. This left the woman with bruising and swelling to her left eye.
Attempts to seek help were initially thwarted by Walters’ threats. After the second incident, the victim insisted he leave the premises, but Walters refused. She told him her intentions to go to the police, at which point Walters entered her car and insisted on accompanying her to the police station. Instead of supporting her, upon arrival, he threatened self-harm if she proceeded to report his actions. Feeling intimidated and concerned for his welfare, the complainant refrained from making an immediate complaint.
Despite these attempts to silence his former partner, both incidents subsequently came to the attention of the police through another individual. Walters was arrested, remanded in custody, and brought before the courts. During the proceedings, his defence solicitor relayed his expressions of remorse and regret for his conduct.
Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the case, gave a pointed address to the defendant via video link. The judge remarked on the gravity of the offences and commented, “Most men would be able to restrain themselves from such actions. It is truly pitiful – it signals a deeper societal issue.” Judge Walters made clear the seriousness with which the court viewed offences of domestic violence, especially where victims are further endangered by threats or manipulation intended to prevent them seeking help.
Walters admitted to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was handed a six-month custodial sentence for each offence, to run consecutively. Given the time already served on remand, Walters is expected to be released on licence in due course, but the incident underscores the ongoing impact and trauma inflicted on the victim.
In a protective measure for the complainant, Walters was also made subject to a three-year restraining order. This prohibits him from having any contact, either directly or indirectly, with his former partner, offering her a degree of legal safety as she seeks to move on with her life.
Cases such as this highlight continuing concerns about domestic violence and the challenges victims encounter in reporting abuse. The court’s intervention, alongside support from third parties, played a crucial role in ensuring this case was brought to light. Authorities urge anyone affected by domestic violence to seek support via the police or specialist agencies. Support is available for all those experiencing abuse, regardless of whether they wish to pursue legal proceedings.
This case, which unfolded in the Swansea Crown Courtrooms, further signals the need for continued awareness and robust responses to domestic violence throughout communities in South Wales and beyond.