‘Bully’ David Bradshaw left his victim with a fractured rib, a badly bruised left eye which was swollen shut, a swollen jaw, and bruising to her neck
David Bradshaw(Image: South Wales Police)
A former boxer subjected his partner to a brutal beating in which he repeatedly kicked and stamped on the woman as she lay on the floor while he brandished a knife at her.
David Bradshaw was on bail at the time of the assault having previously taken the woman’s car and crashed it into a wall before being found drunk and shirtless in a pub car park and then kicking a policeman in the head.
Sending the 34-year-old defendant down a judge at Swansea Crown Court described him as a man “possessed by petty jealousy and inadequacy” and said in a domestic context he was a “bully”.
Ryan Bowen, prosecuting, told the court that at 2.30pm on August 22 this year Bradshaw’s partner collected him from the day surgery unit at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a previous hand injury. He said the woman formed the view he was intoxicated.
The pair went to the nearby Pub on the Pond bar where the defendant starting accusing his partner of being unfaithful and of treating him like “s***”. Bradshaw stormed out of the pub taking his two pints of beer and glass of whisky with him.
The court heard the altercation continued after the woman left the pub with the defendant demanding to see her phone before becoming “irate”, pouring a drink on her, and taking her car keys and driving away in her Mini. The prosecutor said the defendant subsequently crashed his partner’s car into a wall and abandoned it. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter
The court heard that Bradshaw was located that evening – shirtless and intoxicated – in the car park of the Red Lion pub in Morriston having been thrown out of the establishment due to his behaviour. He was arrested and put into a police vehicle but during the journey to Swansea Central police station the officers became concerned about his welfare. They stopped the vehicle to check if he was okay and he responded by kicking a constable in the head.
Bradshaw was interviewed the following day and released on bail.
The court heard a week later Bradsahw and his partner were at the defendant’s home address in the Birchgrove area of Swansea when the assault took place. After consuming a bottle of vodka the defendant again became “irate” and threw a television and a table at his partner before grabbing her by the hair and pulling out some of her hair extensions.
The prosecutor said the defendant then punched his partner in the head and face causing her to fall to the floor. The woman curled up into a ball to protect herself and Bradshaw, who was now brandishing a knife, repeatedly kicked her and stamped on her before grabbing her around the neck and squeezing.
The assault was reported later the same day while Bradshaw was asleep and officers subsequently attended the house and woke and arrested him.
The court heard the victim went to Morriston Hospital accident and emergency department where she was noted to have a reduced level of consciousness, a fractured rib, a badly bruised left eye which was swollen shut, a swollen jaw, and bruising to her neck.
In his subsequent interview Bradshaw denied assaulting his partner, making reference to having “rough sex” and saying she had caused the injuries to herself with a metal lamp.
In a statement which was read to the court by the prosecution barrister the victim said the relationship with Bradshaw had been the worst period of her life. She said the defendant’s unpredictable and violent behaviour had “completely altered” her whole life and left experiencing nightmares and she said while she had prioritised her physical health following the assault she knew she would also have to work on her mental health.
How to access free domestic abuse helplines in Wales
If you, a family member, or a friend have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, you can contact the Live Fear Free helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for free advice and support, or to talk through your options. Call 0808 80 10 800, text 0786 007 7333, email info@livefearfreehelpline.wales or go to gov.wales/live-fear-free
Live Fear Free (funded by Welsh Government and run by Welsh Women’s Aid) is a confidential service. Calls to 0808 80 numbers are free to call from landlines and mobile phones in the UK. They do not appear on itemised bills. The helpline provides support in English and Welsh, and access to an interpreter for callers with language support needs.
The Refuge charity also provides information, support and practical help 24 hours a day to women experiencing domestic violence. The service can refer women and children to refuges throughout the UK to help them escape domestic abuse. Refuge can be called on 0808 808 9999.
David Bradshaw, of Birchgrove Road, Birchgrove, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle-taking, driving while disqualified, assaulting an emergency worker, and inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has eight previous convictions for 10 offences including drink-driving, drug-driving, possession of drugs, battery, and affray. This last offence had involved Bradshaw being part of a group of men fighting outside the Potter’s Wheel pub in The Kingsway in Swansea city centre.
Caitlin Brazel, for Bradshaw, said a matter of days before the commission of the offences the defendant had buried his uncle who had been a role model to him. She said Bradshaw turned to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism following that bereavement. The barrister said the defendant had told her that he was “disgusted” at his behaviour towards his former partner and she said Bradshaw had the benefit of a supportive family which was something he knew not everybody who comes before the courts can say.
Judge Huw Rees told Bradshaw he was a man “possessed by petty jealousy and inadequacy”. He said the defendant had used multiple means to assault his victim and he noted Bradshaw had some experience in the boxing ring. He told him: “You are, in short, in a domestic context a bully.”
With discounts for his guilty pleas Bradshaw was sentenced to 32 months in prison comprising 27 months for the GBH and five months for the earlier matters to run consecutively. The defendant will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.
