THIS is the face of a man who strangled and kicked his girlfriend as he accused her of cheating, before then pressuring her in to withdrawing her complaint to the police.

Liam Brian launched a “prolonged” three-hour attack on his partner last August when he became paranoid that she was cheating on him.

He was jailed this week to 27 months for the attack, as well as a further seven months for perverting the course of justice.

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The court heard that an argument broke out between the defendant and his partner on August 11 where he accused her of infidelity and twice threw her phone at her.

They went downstairs, and Brian kicked his partner on the leg and then to the chin, before then starting to strangle her.

“The abuse during that incident lasted for around three hours in total,” Mr Rees said.

The court heard that the victim was concerned about the defendant’s welfare, so stayed with him, but kept notes of what had happened.

Mr Rees said Brian was “further angered” when she showed him these notes, but the pair then reconciled again.

During this period of reconciliation, the pair got engaged on Christmas Day 2023. Mr Rees said they talked together about the victim withdrawing her complaint to the police, and she did so in January.

“It wasn’t just talking about it. He accepts the prosecution’s case that it involved pressure on the complainant?,” asked Judge Catherine Richards.

“Yes, your honour,” said Emily Bennett, representing Brian.

The court heard that the original complaint was made to police in December 2023 and was withdrawn in January, before the withdrawal was cancelled in February.

Liam Brian launched a prolonged attack on his partner and pressured her to withdraw her complaint to the police.Liam Brian launched a prolonged attack on his partner and pressured her to withdraw her complaint to the police. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)

After initially denying the offences, Brian pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, strangulation and perverting the course of justice on the day of trial.

“It was a prolonged assault. Fortunately the injuries were minor,” Mr Rees said.

He added that 30-year-old Brian had five previous offences, including for battery and ABH in domestic contexts, and he was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the attack.

“The defendant knows that a period in custody is inevitable,” said Ms Bennett.

She said Brian was suffering with “significant stress and anxiety” at the time of the offences, and was “deeply disappointed in himself”.

Ms Bennett said Brian, of Owen Street in Pennar, was “motivated to change his behaviour” so as to “provide him with better prospects upon his release”.

As well as sending Brian to prison, Judge Richards granted his now ex-partner a 10-year restraining order against him.