A woman suffered a string of injuries during a campaign of abuse by her violent, former partner. The victim, who said she was “blinded by love”, sustained a damaged foot ligament and broken finger in separate incidents at the hands of Justin Harvey.
She had to give up work as a hairdresser as it was too painful to stand on her injured foot. In other incidents, Harvey threw a cigarette at her face, went into a pub with a bat and left her financially ruined.
Harvey, 35, of Tan y Efail, Holyhead, admitted engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court today jailed him for three years and four months. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
Prosecutor Elen Owen said Harvey and the victim had been in a relationship as teenagers. Then she met another man and had three children.
They split up and in 2020 Harvey and the victim resumed their relationship. It was fine early on but Harvey became abusive. Ms Owen listed a series of incidents. On one occasion the defendant pushed the victim off a bed.
She damaged a ligament and she had to give up work as a hairdresser as it was too painful to stand for long periods. In March 2023 Harvey grabbed her little finger with force.
She went to Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley for treatment but did not tell the truth to protect her then partner Harvey. The finger remains bent towards her ring finger today.
On May 5, 2023, Harvey ended up on top of her and choked her. The father of her children happened to call and Harvey got off.
Then Harvey punched her in the face during an argument in June 2023. Four months later he strangled her again, this time “bouncing” her head on the floor.
He picked up a knife and threatened to harm himself in a bid to stop her reporting the attack. In February last year Harvey threw a cigarette in her face, burning her lip.
That month he also trapped her arm in a door and slammed it shut. An X-ray at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley revealed it was not broken.
The court also heard the victim admitted sending Harvey a photo of herself with another man in March last year to “hurt” him as he had hurt her. Harvey came into a pub where she was in a rage and carrying a bat.
Witness Lacey Williams said he was “shouting and spitting”. The victim, who also said she was left financially ruined by the defendant, read out a statement in court. She said: “I was blinded by love…I tried and tried to help him but it didn’t work. I need to move on for myself and my kids.”
Dafydd Roberts, defending, said Harvey deserves some credit for pleading guilty. He has proved in the past he can live a law-abiding life.
While on remand he has been a prison wing cleaner and is now in a trusted job as a servery assistant. The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told the defendant he had turned into a “violent and controlling” man with offences in the most serious category.
He imposed a 20-year restraining order on Harvey. He told the victim he hopes with the love and support of friends and family she will be able to recover emotionally and as much as possible physically.
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