A VICTIM of domestic abuse is urging others to come forward after seeing her former partner jailed.

Bev Jones, of Coedpoeth, suffered what a judge described as “truly stomach churning” injuries at the hands of Daniel Norman, 36, who was jailed for 20 months last week after he admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Ms Jones, who was 42 on Monday, suffered a fractured cheek and a fractured eye socket when she was repeatedly punched by Norman at their home in Heol Gwynallt following a night out last November.

The court heard she had been left with metal plates in her face and had continuing sight problems.

Following the sentence she has spoken of the impact the assault has had on her confidence and is now urging other victims to report domestic abuse to the authorities.

She said: “It’s only now that I’m starting to trust people again.

“For a long time after what happened I didn’t trust anyone, not even my friends.

“I went back to work and at first I couldn’t handle it.”

The pharmecutical worker began receiving counselling shortly after the incident, which left her stricken with post-traumatic stress disorder. Her daughter and witness Emma, 23, also required counselling.

The court heard Norman, a former Thai boxer, left Ms Jones unconscious in a pool of blood following the attack on November 27. A neighbour called to the scene thought she was dead.

Norman and Ms Jones had been in a relationship since last July and on Saturday, November 27, they had been drinking in Coedpoeth.

Later at their home, violence flared. Norman began shouting and throwing punches in the couple’s bedroom as a shocked Ms Jones was quickly knocked unconscious.

“I remember him hitting me on the side my face,” said Ms Jones as she recalled the night’s events.

“The next thing I remember is waking in hospital the next morning.

“I don’t remember much but I do have flashbacks.”

Norman had no previous convictions and Ms Jones said there was no previous indication of Norman being violent towards her when they began the relationship.

Revealing she had “mixed” feelings about the length of the sentence handed to Norman, Ms Jones is now urging other victims to make sure their voices are heard so justice can be served on offenders.

“I hope that by sharing what has happened it can help other women be strong in these situations,” she said.

“I would urge anyone who is the victim of something like this to go to the police.

“The fact that he has been sent to prison shows the importance of reporting such things.”

Ms Jones has received support from Women’s Aid and Domestic Abuse in the wake of the assault and she is attending a course next month to help her rebuld her life.

“There are some great people in these organisations,” she said.

“They have helped me a great deal.”

“He has said sorry to me,” Ms Jones added, “but how can I be sure that he meant it?”

Judge Niclas Parry, who described the incident as a “truly sickening attack”, made an indefinite restraining order and Norman must never again approach Ms Jones as she looks to rebuild her life without him.

He told him: “You are a powerful man. Your victim must have been like a rag doll.”
Photographs of the aftermath of the attack was “truly stomach churning”, he said.