A MAN has been told that prison is “inevitable” after he slashed a man’s tyre and previously admitted strangling his wife.

Ben Hilton, of Robert Street in Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with three offences.

Hilton, 32, was accused of having a utility knife on Vine Road in Johnston on June 16 last year. He was also alleged to have threatened a man with the knife and slashed a tyre on the man’s car.

  • For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here.

He pleaded guilty to having the knife and criminal damage – relating to the slashed tyre – but denied threatening the man with the knife.

Prosecutor Caitlin Brazel told the court that these pleas were acceptable, and a trial would not be sought on the remaining charge.

The court heard that Hilton was currently in custody awaiting sentence after the prosecution accepted his guilty pleas admitting he strangled his wife and assaulted a police officer in Milford Haven on June 28.

“He has done a number of courses – including relationship courses – in prison,” said Stuart John, appearing for Hilton.

“This is a man with a bad record,” Judge Paul Thomas KC said.

Turning to the defendant, Judge Thomas said: “It seems to me that a prison sentence is inevitable, particularly in view of the strangulation matter. And that’s just one of the matters that you face.”

The judge adjourned sentencing until Friday, October 18, and remanded the defendant back in to custody until that date.