Wayne Brooks, 48, initially denied the assault, maintaining he had acted in self-defence, before changing his plea prior to trial.
The attack involved strangulation, blows to the head, and the victim being held down. Judge Catherine Fooks said when speaking to the Probation Service, the defendant had painted a picture of himself as the victim and his supposed motivation to change was doubted. The woman had suffered extensive bruising as a result of the attack and it was said that her life ‘would never be the same again’.
Prosecuting, Advocate Phoebe Cobb told the court how the couple had moved to the island from the UK in February 2024 having been in a relationship for about five years. They separated shortly after and Brooks moved in to an adjoining flat.
They shared custody of their dog and would see each other often, and got on amicably.
One evening in April Brooks visited her flat, saying he wanted to speak to her. He was still there in the early hours of the morning when the two had an argument about why their relationship had ended. The woman asked him to leave and held the door open for him to go.
At that point Brooks threw her to the floor and using his knees to trap her arms, put his hands around her throat. She struggled to breathe and was trying to break free. He lessened his grip and then tightened it again on at least three occasions, the court was told. He held her by the hair and banged her head on the floor and then began slapping her face using his left and right hands alternately.
She recalled that on at least two occasions Brooks had said he was going to end her life. She said his eyes were black and he 'looked like the devil'. When he sat back she took the opportunity to run out in to the street and spoke to passing refuse collectors who agreed to call the police. One man noted she was very upset and that her face was obviously bruised. Police arrived and Brooks was arrested in his own flat. The woman was taken to hospital where she remained for a few hours for tests. She had suffered multiple bruises.
In interview, Brooks admitted slapping the woman but denied holding her throat. He said he had done it in self-defence to get her off him.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said that since the attack she had suffered with anxiety and flashbacks and was fearful that the defendant would find her when he was released from prison. She did not feel safe in her own home.
In April 2024 Brooks had been ordered to perform 80 hours of community service for offences of assault and disorderly behaviour, which he had committed on the day he arrived in Guernsey. The only other matter on his record was minor and from nearly 30 years ago.
Defending, Advocate Samuel Steel said his client wished to apologise for his behaviour.
He had been in custody since his arrest. Those eight months equated to a 12- month sentence with remission.
While in prison he had completed courses on conflict resolution, anger management, and decision-making, all of which had been missing on the night in question. This was his only domestic assault. His current partner, and a previous one, said he had not acted in this way with them. He had already been punished for this offence as he had been told that he would not be allowed to stay in the island.
Brooks was also ordered to pay the woman £725 compensation to cover the costs of an ambulance and attendance at A&E. Judge Fooks commended the refuse workers who had helped the victim on the night.