A man bit, strangled, and headbutted his then-girlfriend during a violent outburst following an argument over her driving. Tariq Francis, 27, from Trowbridge in Cardiff, engaged in the horrifying attack outside his mother’s home in May last year. During a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, August 21, Francis’ victim expressed how her life has been forever changed by the incident, fearing he might harm her again once released from prison.
In a brave victim impact statement read in court, she shared her concerns, stating, I worry that one day he will seriously hurt me. The court heard that the altercation erupted when the victim, feeling flustered after being overtaken by another driver, braked abruptly outside Francis’s mother’s house in May 2023. Francis became alarmed by her sudden stop, leading to a heated argument inside the car. The situation escalated when Francis attempted to remove the car’s rear wiper in a fit of rage.
The victim exited the car, sparking further confrontation, during which Francis chased her around the vehicle and viciously bit her on the upper left arm, causing significant bruising. He then forcefully strangled her and headbutted her before coercing her back into the car and continuing the attack. Despite driving them to her flat after the assault, the victim initially refused to let Francis inside. She recounted how Francis pleaded and apologised, expressing disbelief at his actions.
The victim described the lasting repercussions of the assault, detailing the mental health struggles she has since faced, resulting in her leaving a job she enjoyed. She highlighted how the incident had shattered her sense of safety and control, leading her to alter her routines out of fear of encountering Francis again. The court learned that Francis had a prior conviction for assaulting a police officer in 2017 but had not received a prison sentence for the offences.
During the sentencing, Francis’s defence acknowledged the toxic nature of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend. The defence highlighted Francis’s constructive use of his time in prison, where he completed educational courses in construction, anger management, and relationships. Judge Recorder Celia Hughes condemned Francis’s appalling assault and sentenced him to 62 weeks in prison for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Despite Francis’s limited financial means, the judge ordered him to pay £500 in compensation to his victim within two years of his release and issued a restraining order forbidding any contact with her. The victim’s statement encapsulated the profound impact of domestic violence, shedding light on the emotional and psychological turmoil endured by survivors. The case underscores the importance of providing support and resources to individuals affected by such traumatic experiences, promoting awareness and prevention of domestic abuse.