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Richard Jones, 37, of Saxon Street in Wrexham, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on April 1 for inflicting grievous bodily harm on his then girlfriend.

Back in 2019, Jones had been in a relationship with Kirsten Blackwell of six years and the pair had children together.

Prosecution Council Matthew Dunford told the court that their relationship ‘had not been smooth’ and there had been ‘heated arguments’ in the past.

He said in 2018, the pair had a baby boy which sadly died shortly after birth and from there, the relationship ‘deteriorated’ – adding to that were ‘financial’ struggles.

Mr Dunford said on December 12, 2019, Ms Blackwell went out with university friends to celebrate Christmas and Jones was to look after the children.

The court heard how she had left him £15 to buy bread and milk for the family.

The next morning, Mr Dunford said Jones was ‘in a bad mood’ and was ‘shouting at her for wasting money for going on’.

Ms Blackwell asked about the £15 when she realised no bread or milk had been bought which led to a heated argument.

The court heard how Jones pushed Ms Blackwell and there had been ‘scuffling’ which led to Ms Blackwell feeling an ‘explosion of pain’ in her left shoulder.

Mr Dunford said Jones was ‘sorry’ and helped her to her feet before taking the children to school, leaving her with their then four-month-old.

Ms Blackwell went to her friends who had taken her to the hospital where tests showed a left shoulder fracture.

The incident was reported to police on December 14 and when arrested and interviewed, Jones said there had been a row and he ‘pushed her’ but was ‘very concerned’ about her afterwards.

In a victim personal statement, Ms Blackwell said she had been breastfeeding their son but since the injury this ‘became impossible’ and she felt ‘helpless’ due to not being able to ‘carry out the basic functions’ for caring for their son.

She also describes how it became ‘difficult’ to cope with young boys and ‘never regained full strength’.

The court heard how she had dropped off her university course and had ‘lost all confidence’.

Anna Price, defence counsel, said this was a couple who has ‘arguments’ which led to the police being called, often by Jones.

She went on to say that since the offence, Jones has attempted to contact Ms Blackwell once regarding child contact and she asked him not to, which he has ‘abided by’.

She added that Jones was ‘immediately remorseful’.

His Honour Judge David Hale, sitting in as deputy circuit judge, said it was an ‘unusual relationship’ but one that had ‘many arguments’ and ‘shouting matches’.

He added that in pushing her, he caused her a ‘nasty injury’ which had indirect consequences of struggling to care for five young children.

He said Jones should ‘never have pushed her’ or ‘used any violence’ against his partner.

Jones was given a two-year community order involving 35 sessions of a programme requirement and 30-days rehabilitation requirement.

He was also given a two year restraining order, £500 compensation and victim surcharge of£90.