A WOMAN was left “shaking in fear” after a man “emotionally manipulated” her in to allowing him to stay with her over Christmas, before trying to violently re-enter the home on New Year’s Day.

Last December 23, Carwyn Matthews, 43, showed up at the home of his ex-partner, near Ammanford

The complainant later told police that the defendant “emotionally manipulated her” in to allowing him to stay over the Christmas period, prosecutor Georgia Donohue said.

However, by the turn of the year, Matthews had returned to his old ways – becoming “increasingly demanding” and argumentative, Ms Donohue told Swansea Crown Court.

He left the house momentarily after an argument at around midday on January 1, and the complainant went to lock him out. However, Matthews got his foot in the door to stop her closing it.

A neighbour reported hearing the pair shouting, and said he saw the defendant’s “right hand lunging towards the complainant’s face” before he pushed his way inside the house, Ms Donohue said.

The neighbour called the police, and Matthews left the house and ran away when he heard sirens.

When police arrived, the complainant “burst in to tears”, while her young child – who had been playing outside – told officers: ‘Mummy and daddy are arguing again. They’re always arguing’.

Matthews, of Heol Dderwen in Llanelli, was arrested the next day. He accepted breaching the restraining order, but denied pushing his was in to the house and a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The complainant told the court, via a statement, that the incident gave her a “terrifying fright” and that she “broke in to tears several times and was shaking in fear” when the police arrived.

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The defendant later pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order and using violence to secure entry to a property, as well as battery – as an alternative charge to the assault.

Matthews has three previous convictions for seven offences, and had been subject to a suspended sentence for offences against the same complainant in 2022. He was also made the subject of a community order after being convicted of violent offences against her in March 2020.

Matthew Murphy, in mitigation, said Matthews looked after the child six days a week, and supported the child and the complainant financially.

He said there would be “a significant impact” on the defendant’s child if he was sent to prison.

“I suspect watching his father being violent to his mother would also have a significant impact on his life,” Judge Paul Thomas replied.

“If there is any scope for the defendant being afforded one last chance, he would request that he is given it on behalf of his child,” Mr Murphy said.

Addressing Matthews, Judge Thomas said: “You violently tried to force your way in, you assaulted her and you were shouting at her.

“It is clear neither the community order or the suspended sentence have succeeded in stopping you assaulting your child’s mother.”

Judge Thomas accused Matthews of using his child as a “shield” from a prison sentence on his previous court appearances.

“You had that as an excuse on previous occasions. It will not wash a third time,” he said.

“It’s not doing your child any good to witness repeated bouts of violence by his father against his mother.”

Judge Thomas jailed Matthews for a total of eight months, and made him the subject of a five-year restraining order on behalf of the complainant.

Support available for victims of domestic abuse

Women’s Aid run a Live Chat service between 10am-4pm weekdays, and 10am12pm on weekends, along with other online services and the UK Domestic Abuse Directory for your local domestic abuse service at womensaid.org.uk.

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge).

The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors, is 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect).

The National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop).

If you are in immediate danger always call 999.