A Narberth man’s ‘complicated’ romantic life led to violence when he thumped one of his girlfriend’s in her face breaking her jaw.
Robert Young, aged 52, had already had a fiancée for 10 years before he met another woman via the internet.
Carina Hughes, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that although she dumped a boyfriend to be with him he would not leave his fiancée.
Young, of Northfield Road, spent an evening with his new girlfriend, but an argument broke out over a mobile telephone, during which he hit her in the face, fracturing her jaw.
Miss Hughes said she telephoned the police there and then and Young was still at her address when officers arrived to arrest him.
Young claimed at first that she had fallen over and injured herself.
But he later admitted assaulting her causing actual bodily harm.
Judge Paul Thomas asked Miss Hughes why Young had not been charged with a more serious offence of causing grievous bodily harm.
She said the injured woman was not supportive of the prosecution and, taking all the circumstances ‘in the round,’ it had been decided by the Crown Prosecution Service to press ahead with an allegation of abh.
“A fuge then,” commented Judge Thomas.
Stuart John, representing Young, said he had been promiscuous and had had a lot of partners he did not know a great deal about.
“The probation service might be able to help him to understand how healthy relationships are built,” he added.
“This was not a healthy relationship because of the circumstances it had been born out of.”
Judge Thomas told Young he had indulged in ‘complicated romantic activities’ and needed to grow up and treat women properly.
“This court will not tolerate violence towards women, especially in domestic settings.
“You do not hit women.”
Judge Thomas told Young he had escaped a sentence of immediate jail ‘by the skin of your teeth.’
Young was jailed for 36 weeks, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 10 days of a rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work for the community.