JAMES ROBERTS – FLINTSHIRE

2026 – A jealous, possessive and violent man who subjected his former partner to sustained abuse has been jailed following a trial at Mold Crown Court.

James Roberts, of Megs Lane, Buckley, Flintshire, was convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour, two counts of strangulation and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The court heard that the abuse lasted just under a year and involved repeated acts of physical violence alongside emotional and psychological manipulation.

During sentencing, Judge Simon Mills described the offending as a “very wicked form of violence” and highlighted the seriousness of the repeated strangulation. The court was told Roberts had also made a grave threat to burn down his partner’s home while she and her child were inside.

In a powerful victim impact statement, the woman said the abuse went far beyond physical harm. She explained she had suffered significant emotional and mental trauma and that over time she “started to lose who I was.” She described feeling worthless and said the impact of the relationship had affected her life moving forward.

Although the defence argued there was another side to Roberts and presented character references describing him as polite and hardworking, the judge found that he had not shown genuine remorse.

Roberts was sentenced to two years in prison. He will serve at least half of that term in custody before being released on licence. A Domestic Abuse Protection Order was also imposed for seven years.

The court heard that Roberts had one previous unrelated conviction from his youth.