Man strangled woman and kicked her down stairs in front of son in vile attacks (2025)

Keiron Hatton belittled his then-partner about her stomach and breasts following a series of domestic assaults

A thug strangled his partner and kicked her down a flight of stairs in a series of brutal domestic assaults, one of which took place in front of their child.

Keiron Hatton subjected the mother of his two children to coercive and controlling behaviour, Cardiff Crown Court, in a campaign of 'demeaning' and 'nasty' attacks.

The 31-year-old wasabusive towards his then-partner during four incidents that took place in Maesteg between January and June 2023. In the first incident, Hatton and the victim had been out separately with friends, reports WalesOnline.

"She could not find him so she started walking home alone," prosecutor Alice Sykes explained.

By the time he got home Hatton was enraged. He followed the victim into the bedroom, slapped her, and pulled the bed cover over her. "You strangled her to the point her lips tingled and she felt her eyes would pop out of her head," Judge Richard Kember told the defendant.

Ms Sykes said an attack the following month saw Hatton punch the victim "numerous" times to the back of the head and once to the stomach as well as kicking her down the stairs. She was left with pain in her shoulder blades and stomach. The "random" attack was followed by Hatton locking her out of the house for 20 minutes when she had hardly any clothes on, the prosecutor added.

In the April, there was another assault in which the couple were arguing about the victim's decision to end the relationship. Ms Sykes said: "He slapped her with full force to the left leg, leaving a red mark.

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"She went to walk upstairs but he pulled her back down by the wrist. Their four-year-old son was trying to grab her arms. She told the defendant that if she fell down the stairs their son would fall down too. At this point the defendant released his grip."

In the June, Hatton tormented the victim with verbal abuse including mocking her over a traumatic experience from her past. "He belittled her about her stomach and breasts, telling her she looked like a man, that she was ugly and fat, that no one would want her, and that she was an embarrassment," said Ms Sykes.

The victim said the abuse affected her "tremendously". She added: "I am constantly on edge. My anxiety is through the roof. I don't sleep well and I have nightmares about Keiron and what he did to me. I don't know what to expect or what is round the corner." She went on to say she was even more scared of him since ending the relationship.

Hatton, of Fairfield Road in Croeserw, initially claimed he had acted in self-defence but a week before trial he pleaded guilty to coercive, controlling behaviour. He had no previous convictions. His barrister Owen Williams asked the judge to follow the probation service's recommendation of a rehabilitation requirement.

"He is a working man who provides for his family and children financially," said Mr Williams. "There is a good prospect of rehabilitation." The barrister argued that Hatton's children would be affected were he to be imprisoned.

Judge Kember described Hatton's treatment of the victim as "demeaning" and "nasty". He told the defendant: "Whatever the rights and wrongs of the breakdown of the relationship, you should be ashamed of yourself."

The judge said the offence was aggravated by the fact that a child witnessed at least one of the attacks. He took into account that the probation service had assessed Hatton as posing a low risk of further offending and a medium risk of harm to his ex-partner.

Judge Kember also noted the potential impact an immediate jail term could have on Hatton's children. He handed down a four-month prison term suspended for 18 months. Hatton must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. The defendant, who earns £1,600 a month and pays his parents for board and lodging, must pay £1,000 in prosecution costs and a £100 victim services surcharge.

With earnings of £1,600 per month and financially contributing to his parents for board and lodging, Hatton was also ordered to pay £1,000 in prosecution costs and a £100 victim services surcharge.

When WalesOnline asked Hatton if he felt remorse for his abusive behaviour, he said: "I think you know I'm sorry for the offence, otherwise I wouldn't have pleaded guilty." Puffing on a vape, he added: "It works both ways, butt."