A man repeatedly slammed his ex-girlfriend's head and throttled her so violently she passed out when she broke his phone after a row about contact with his child. A drunk Shannon Tristan Evans, of High Street in Blaenau Ffestiniog launched the sickening attack on his former partner over a row about access to his daughter.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards told Caernarfon Crown Court that the couple had split just after the birth of their daughter but remained in contact so that he could remain a part of her life. The court heard, however that the woman was told by social services to cut contact with the defendant a week before the attack.

On September 30, after the woman ignored text messages from Evans' to arrange to see his daughter and "give their relationship another go", he turned up drunk at her house and began arguing with her. During the argument, Evans' phone was knocked to the ground and broken causing Evans to see red.

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Evans then dragged his ex up to the bedroom by her hair, causing clumps to fall out, as she begged him to stop. The court heard how he then grabbed her head and "slammed" it on to foot of the bed several times.

Evans then planted a knee onto her chest and told the mother of his child he was "going to kill her" before throttling her into unconsciousness. When she came to and tried to call the police, Evans said he'd "have her done for criminal damage", referring to his broken phone, said Mr Edwards.

When arrested, the defendant accepted there had been an argument but denied any physical attack happened. The victim said in a statement she now found it difficult to care for her three children due to the pain following the attack.

Evans admitted to assault by beating and intentional strangulation. Defending, James Coutts, said his client knows there "is nobody to blame but himself" that prison was the "only realistic outcome" for him.

He accepted that the reaction to the smashed phone was "highly inappropriate" and "over the top". Mr Coutts wanted the judge to recognise Evans has "already taken positive steps" to address his issues with anger and alcohol whilst being on remand and intends to better himself for his daughter.

He added that it was "nothing but luck" that the victim's children were not present at the house when to witness the attack.

Judge Simon Mills said he couldn't ignore the injuries and violence forced upon the victim that night, adding that the courts were aware he attacked her previously whilst pregnant. Jailing Evans for 25 months, he said: "This must have been a terrifying experience to have you looming over her and threatening to kill her.

"You were on license at the time from a previous custodial sentence and this is made more serious due to the domestic nature of the assault. It is clear you have a problematic relationship with alcohol and pose a high risk to others unless you can address that."

The judge also imposed a restraining order, banning Evans from having direct contact with his ex for the next decade. Provisions were made in the order to maintain child contact through either social services or an agreed third party.