A WREXHAM man who caused ‘serious psychological harm’ to his ex-partner after assaulting her and telling her he wanted to ‘slit her throat and watch her die’ has been jailed.

Ashley Massingham, 32, of Albert Grove in Ruabon appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on December 10 for assault causing actual bodily harm, affray and criminal damage.

The court heard how Massingham had been in a relationship for five-months with his then-partner and on October 19 they had spent the afternoon in Wrexham.

His then-partner was due to visit a friends house but had to return to Massingham’s address after realising she still had his house keys.

Prosecuting counsel, Sion Ap Mihangell, said Massingham had sent a number of threatening messages to her and upon returning to the flat he was ‘screaming’ and ‘pushed the victim’s chest’ before ‘climbing on top of her’ and put both hands around her neck.

The court heard how Massingham also smashed her mobile phone and ‘aggressively’ said ‘if you leave me I’m going to kill you’.

His partner was ‘pushed and fell over’ but managed to get out of the flat ‘screaming’ before being ‘tackled to the ground’.

Massingham then proceeded to put his hands around her neck again and ‘bit her left cheek’, by this time they were ‘on the road’.

Mr Ap Mihangell said a nearby female shouted he was ‘going to kill her’, but the victim ‘reluctantly agreed to return to the flat’ after fearing for the passerby’s safety.

The court heard how the situation then escalated and Massingham held a knife to her and said there is ‘nothing I’d like more than to slit your throat and watch you die’.

Police officers soon arrived, and it is believed the incident lasted around two-hours.

As a result of this incident, the victim spent four-weeks at a mental health unit and is still receiving 'ongoing care'.

Defence Counsel Mr Duncan Bould said Massingham was ‘still a relatively young man’ and his ‘attitude to incarceration is a positive one’.

He added that ‘without the influence of large amounts of alcohol and drugs’, he could behave in a more ‘positive way’.

Her Honour Judge Nicola Jones said in his interview there was ‘considerable shame’ on his behalf.

On the attack, Judge Jones said ‘such force was applied’ that the victim thought she would ‘pass out’, and was ‘frightened’.

She added: “Thankfully, in spite of others clearly witnesses, the only person who intervened was a lone female.

“The victim was so frightened of what you may do to this other woman that she agreed to go back to the flat to protect her from violence.”

The court heard how Massingham was ‘resistant to arrest’ and the assault was ‘sustained and repeated, lasting two-hours’.

The judge added that she was ‘frightened and genuinely believed you would kill her’, which caused ‘serious psychological harm’.

However, he had shown ‘genuine remorse’ which brought the sentencing down.

After considering the sentence, Massingham was given a two-year and three months custodial sentence, of which half would be served in custody.

Massingham was also given an indefinite restraining order as it ‘is necessary to protect the victim in this case’.

Judge Jones said the reasoning behind the indefinite restraining order was because she is ‘so concerned’ about his behaviour as he ‘could have killed her that time’.