JOHN ATHERTON – RHYL, WALES

❌JOHN ATHERTON – RHYL, WALES❌

November 2025 –

Rhyl man jailed for terrifying attacks on former partner

John Atherton, a man from Rhyl with a long history of violent behaviour towards women, has been jailed for attacking his fourth known victim. This marks his second prison sentence for physically assaulting women to the point of requiring hospital treatment. His previous victims include the mother of his children, two former partners, and a woman he assaulted on a train.

Atherton has 19 prior convictions and has previously served time on electronic tagging, including GPS monitoring, and had restrictions linked to alcohol use. He is currently subject to a five-year Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO). Reports indicate that he not only abused but also betrayed his partners, manipulating situations and spinning narratives when relationships ended to maintain control. His most recent victim left him six weeks before he brutally attacked her with a knife.

Atherton, 39, of East Parade, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on October 15 after admitting threatening with an offensive weapon and two counts of actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Michael Whitty told the court that Atherton’s relationship had deteriorated due to his increasing alcohol dependency and financial difficulties.

One night in December, Atherton returned home from a social event at around 1 a.m. He asked his partner to drive him into Rhyl town centre. When she refused, he became angry, dragged her by her hair, threw her to the floor, and punched her in the face, telling her to “stay down.”

He then shouted further threats and abusive language, including threatening to use a pick-axe on her.

In early April, Atherton sent numerous unwanted messages, even after his former partner stopped replying, including threats to take his own life. At around 2 a.m., he banged on her front door, accusing her of being unfaithful, and produced three kitchen knives. He threatened to make her watch him harm himself, slammed a knife into the kitchen worktop, and pointed another knife at her, ignoring her pleas to leave.

He then held a knife close to her chest, headbutted her, and threw a knife at a hallway wall. She managed to flee to her car, barely clothed, but Atherton chased her and threw a knife at the car door. The vehicle stalled, and he punched the driver’s window until it broke, striking her in the mouth before she was able to drive to Rhyl police station. Officers found her in the car park, covered in glass and wearing only a T-shirt and pyjama shorts.

Atherton was later arrested on Rhyl’s seafront. After being cautioned, he said: “I’m just heartbroken. If you’re in a relationship, don’t be in one with a cheat.”

The victim later reported experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, and flashbacks as a result of the abuse, and stated that a pre-existing medical condition had worsened due to the stress.

Atherton had nine previous convictions for 15 offences, including actual and grievous bodily harm, threatening behaviour, battery, and affray.

His defence lawyer, Simon Killeen, told the court that Atherton expected an immediate prison sentence and asked for the guilty pleas to be taken into account. He described Atherton as a “hard-working man” with “good prospects” after release.

Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands imposed a five-year domestic abuse protection order prohibiting any contact between Atherton and his former partner. He said Atherton had caused “substantial harm” and described the incidents as a “terrifying situation” for the victim.