A BARRY man has been jailed for assaulting his partner and threatening her with a knife.


Lewis John Webster, 23, of Regent Street, was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to both charges at Newport Crown Court on Monday, September 19.


The court heard how, on August 20, he had slept at his now ex-partner’s house. The court was told that he had woken up in a bad mood and was blaming his partner for his mother kicking him out and for him having nowhere to live.


After the pair left the house, heading in different directions. The three children had been left with Webster who quickly abandoned them, deciding to confront his partner again.


The court heard that he was being abusive and verbally aggressive before he put a Stanley knife towards her face and said he was going to cut her.


The court was told that he made “a biting sound” before he grabbed her arm and struck her in the eye, making her cry. 


A witness called the police and they spoke to Webster at around 1pm. They searched him and found the knife in his possession.


The court was told thatWebster has 12 previous convictions including for harassment, battery, actually bodily harm and common assault.


Laurence Jones, defending Webster told the court that his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity and he understands he has to change his ways.


He said Webster knows there is “no quibble over this case” and that he has been attempting to improve his situation, having found a job as a labourer on a work site.


Mr Jones said: “He wishes to apologise and knows it is better that the relationship has ended.


“He has an eye for the future. He has reflected properly and he knows that if he continues in this way his chances with his children are gone.”


In sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams gave him full credit for his early guilty plea but that he had made “ugly threats” and that he had abandoned his children who were “distressed” by the incident. 


Webster will serve half of his sentence in prison and was ordered to pay a surcharge. He was also made the subject of a restraining order.