A WREXHAM man who assaulted his estranged partner at a holiday camp has received a suspended sentence.

Defendant Shaun Alan Hill, 31, of Berse Road in Caego, admitted that on September 2 he assaulted Claire Smith, causing her actual bodily harm.

The couple had been in an 11-year relationship but had split up before they and friends went for a holiday to Pontins at Prestatyn, North East Wales Magistrates’’ Court at Mold was told.

That evening all parties had been drinking and prosecutor Rhian Jackson said that the defendant was told that his partner was “getting cosy” with someone else.

He went to a chalet and struck her to the left side of the face and it was his case that he shoved her and that she fell over when she fractured her right ankle.

She ended up with bruising and swelling to the left eye.

He did not accept prosecution allegations but an earlier court had decided not to hear evidence on the issues.

In his basis of plea he denied suggestions that he had stamped on her leg.

He had no previous convictions and was said to be disappointed with himself.

Defending solicitor, Emily Carlisle, said he had a very strong family support network and his father and sister had been in court all day to support him.

It was a very respectable family, she said.

“His guilty over this incident has torn him apart,” she said He was more than aware that his liberty was in jeopardy.

Since the incident he had told how a week felt like years with the case hanging over him.

Miss Carlisle said that the victim did not support the prosecution and she said it could be speculated that he would not have been prosecuted but for the fact that he had been so honest and made admissions in interview.

It was an isolated incident, a single blow, and he had shown genuine remorse.

District Judge Gwyn Jones said that it was an extremely unpleasant offence when on his own admission he would have been “well affected” by alcohol.

Coupled with the emotional trauma of what took place, he lost his patience and used unlawful force on his former partner.

Domestic incidents were serious because they represented a violation of the trust within a relationship, he said.

Immediate custody was more than justified.

It was an unpleasant incident but he had entered a timely guilty plea and that, together with all he had heard about him, made it appropriate to suspend the sentence.

Hill received a 26 week prison sentence suspended for 18 months with rehabilitation and he was sent on a “building better relationships” course run by the probation service.

The judge ordered him to carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community with £400 compensation, £85 prosecution costs and a £115 surcharge.