Haverfordwest man attacked fiancée after argument over drugs
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told Swansea Crown Court that Kieran Vaughan was in a relationship with the victim, and on March 8 they went out for lunch and drinks.
Whilst they were out, somebody approached Vaughan and they began talking about drugs, but his partner told him he couldn't take any drugs that evening, Ms Donohue said.
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After the couple moved on to another pub, they began to argue and Vaughan grabbed at his partner's hand and tried to pull the engagement ring off her finger.
When the argument was broken up, his partner felt pain in her arm and went to A&E. She was triaged and was told that her finger wasn't fractured and that she likely had a sprained wrist, but she then left before receiving treatment.
Vaughan was arrested that evening and denied assaulting his partner.
He had initially been charged with a series of offences against his partner, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, controlling and coercive behaviour, two offences of strangulation, assault by beating, and sending a threatening message.
However, these were discontinued - aside from the ABH offence - after she withdrew her support for the prosecution as she wanted to resume the relationship.
Vaughan then pleaded guilty to a lesser alternative charge of assault by beating, which the prosecution accepted.
The court heard that 37-year-old Vaughan, of Caradoc Place in Haverfordwest, had 27 previous convictions for 44 offences, and was subject to a community order at the time of the assault.
Jon Tarrant, appearing for Vaughan, said the defendant served the equivalent of a four-month sentence in custody whilst on remand.
Mr Tarrant said the defendant had been aware before he entered his plea that his partner had withdrawn her support for the prosecution, but had still pleaded guilty.
Judge Huw Rees sentenced Vaughan to four months imprisonment, meaning he would be released immediately – subject to prison regulations.
He ordered that the community order continues to run, and Vaughan must now complete the requirements for that.
'There is a lot of work for you to do,' he told the defendant.
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