## Cardiff Man Jailed for Life Over Brutal Murder of Partner Victoria Thomas
A Cardiff mother of two, Victoria Thomas, was left to die on her own bedroom floor by the very man who was meant to love and protect her. Alcwyn Thomas, her partner of four years, was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years before parole consideration. The case has sent shockwaves through the Welsh capital, exposing the devastating consequences of domestic violence and substance misuse.
Victoria, known as Vicki to her friends and family, was described as a loving mother, daughter, and sister. Yet, on the night of 19 August 2024, her life was tragically cut short in her own home on Caerphilly Road, Birchgrove. Reports revealed a harrowing scene: Vicki lay lifeless, clad in just her dressing gown and underwear, cold to the touch with blue lips. Rather than attempting to save her, Alcwyn Thomas simply returned to bed, intoxicated by a cocktail of alcohol and cocaine.
The couple’s relationship, according to friends and relatives, had been a blend of affection and frequent quarrels, mostly fuelled by nights out and substance use. While their public displays rarely signalled serious discord, behind closed doors, arguments often simmered over petty issues and financial problems. Alcwyn, a former carpet fitter plagued by unemployment and gambling debts, was described as “moody” and “argumentative” by those who saw him in his final hours of freedom.
That ill-fated day began innocuously enough, with Vicki and Alcwyn joining family members for a drink at the New Inn pub, before heading to a bingo night at Club 3000 in Gabalfa. Staff and relatives later told investigators the pair appeared, for much of the evening, happy and loving. However, as alcohol and cocaine took their toll, Alcwyn’s mood darkened. Family members observed him becoming increasingly agitated, paranoid and confrontational, culminating in bitter arguments with both Vicki and others present.
CCTV captured the couple’s final moments together, outside Club 3000, deep in dispute. Witnesses during the taxi ride home observed Vicki attempting to calm her disgruntled partner, who complained bitterly about his losses at the bingo. The night descended into horror after neighbours heard a woman’s terrified scream coming from the direction of the couple’s home, shortly before midnight.
Chilling text messages, sent from Vicki’s phone but authored by Alcwyn, were dispatched to family members in the hours that followed. These cryptic messages hinted at his awareness of what had transpired — admissions that something terrible had happened. In a panic, family members rushed to the house, only to find Vicki already dead and Alcwyn unresponsive, feigning an overdose.
Police and paramedics arriving at the scene found Victoria’s body on the floor of her son’s old bedroom. A post-mortem would later confirm she had been strangled, with evidence of haemorrhages and bruising to her neck. Arrested at the scene, Alcwyn maintained throughout that her death was an ‘accident’ during so-called erotic asphyxia. He denied murder, pleading only to manslaughter.
During the three-week trial at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutors insisted that Alcwyn’s actions were deliberate, an act of violence brought on by frustration, rage and intoxication. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a guilty verdict for murder.
Statements read in court from Vicki’s devastated family painted a picture of a generous and vibrant woman, whose life and potential had been cruelly taken. Her sons, Cole and Shay, spoke movingly of their loss, recalling their mother’s unwavering support and irrepressible spirit. Vicki’s mother, Gillian Thomas, addressed Alcwyn directly: “What gave you the right to stop her heart beating? No one gave you that right, you just took it.”
The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by domestic abuse and addiction. Alcwyn Thomas, now facing at least 20 years in prison, left behind not only the family of the woman he killed but two young men growing into adulthood without a mother. The memory of Vicki Thomas, described as open, loving, and full of life, is now cherished by those she left behind, even as they wrestle with the trauma and unanswered questions in the wake of her murder.