CONVICTED (2022) | Rhys Burgess, born c. 1992, of Coryton Close, Brecon LD9 – threw his ex partner’s dog at a window in domestic abuse incident.

Rhys Burgess, who has a history of domestic violence-related offending, was jailed for more than three years after subjecting his ex-partner to a campaign of terror, which culminated in an incident in which he picked up a dog and threw her at a window.

Burgess admitted six charges, which included causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in relation to the dog, a rescue named Roxy. She was described as “shocked” but wasn’t physically injured.

He also admitted intentionally strangling his ex partner and unlawfully and maliciously wounding her70-year-old father, who is terminally ill.

He stole a mobile phone and subjected his ex to violence while doing so and is also said to have caused criminal damage to various items, including car wing mirrors, a mobile phone, fan, laptop, printer, desk, earphones, Perspex windows, internal doors and a lock mechanism belonging to the woman. All five offences are alleged to have taken place in Brecon on September 2.

He also pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in relation to the ex partner between August 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

He continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, including constantly texting and calling the woman, threatening to kill an animal, family or himself if the relationship ended, and controlling her friendships and places she frequented.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court the defendant had been in a relationship with the woman for two years.

“It was initially positive but turned toxic,” said Ms Donohue.

“The defendant moved into her property in August of 2021, which is when the relationship turned violent.”

Ms Donohue said Burgess first assaulted the woman in August 2021, punching her to the face and strangling her.

A further assault took place in August 2022.

“At the end of the evening he asked her if he could stay the night, but she said he must leave and this angered him,” said Ms Donohue.

“He strangled her and she nearly lost consciousness. He accused her of cheating with her friend; [the woman] said he headbutted her and threatened to kill her, her dad and her dog.”

A further assault occurred at the Brecon Jazz festival the same month when Burgess headbutted the woman outside the Bank pub following an argument and later followed her home, assaulting her in the garden.

The most recent incidents occurred on September 2, with Burgess triggered by a text message he received from the woman after he had been abusive to her over text following a night out.

“He turned up at her property in a highly agitated state,” said Ms Donohue.

“He was shouting and began causing damage, he pushed her across the kitchen; her father attempted to intervene but the defendant pushed [him], causing him to fall and hit his head; he was bleeding heavily from the head.

“He then went into the garden and smashed up an outhouse. [The woman] attempted to call 999 while the defendant disarmed [her father] who had picked up a chopping board.

“He then picked up her dog, Roxy, and threw it at full force at the window. He kicked the bathroom door, making a hole, then grabbed [the woman] by the throat and strangled her until she felt faint.

“He only stopped when [the father] intervened, hitting him with a metal pole. He threw her mobile across the road then ripped out the phone line and internet as he left, causing damage to a wing mirror on her car.”

Acting for the father-of-two, Nick Strobl said his client knows there is “something wrong with him”.

“There is very little that can be said in mitigation,” he said. “He is aware his actions that night were a disgrace.

“He works hard and is respected at work, but there is clearly an issue about him in relationships. He told me today he knows there is something wrong with him and he has already taken action to address this while in custody so when he is released he can become a better person.”

Of the September 2 incident, Mr Strobl said: “He went to the property in a rage and damaged as much as he could. The dog was shocked but fine after the incident and no injuries were caused.”

Recorder David Harris said Burgess had previously received a suspended jail sentence for assault and harassment and breaching a restraining order, both in 2013; another suspended sentence in 2018 for criminal damage and threatening behaviour; and he served 12 weeks in prison for assaulting an ex-partner in 2019.

He told Burgess: “The pre-sentence report says there are a number of concerns. It says you need to feel in control and exertion of authority over others bolsters your self-esteem.

“It says you will use strangulation as a way to punish and regain control. The risk you pose to partners has escalated and the commission of these offences is your most grave to date.”

Sentencing | jailed for a total of three years and five months. Nine weeks were added for the animal cruelty charge to be served concurrently. Five-year restraining order, banning him from contacting his ex partner or her father.

County Times

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Additional Information

On 27 November 2022 Wales Online published an article in which Burgess’s ex, Natasha Morgan ( Roxy’s owner) gave details of her and her dog’s ordeal at the hands of serial domestic abuser Rhys Burgess. The following extract describes the incident where Roxy was targeted by Burgess:

Natasha said Burgess knew her dad was terminally ill with cancer. She said he was aware that in May her father had been given a “few months to live”.

She continued: “As I was getting a towel for my dad’s head he was smashing up whatever he could. He tried to smash the glass in both the front and back doors but he wasn’t able to. He headbutted them so many times. He kicked the doors inside the house. Two doors downstairs had holes in them and one was completely falling off the hinges.

“He went into the living room where the dog was cowering. She’s a rescue so she’s afraid of any shouting and she would get afraid of him when he was angry. As he was shouting he shouted [at the dog]: ‘Oh, and you’ and he picked her up and threw her into the window. I thought she was going to go straight through the window. She bounced off and she didn’t know what to do – she looked so scared. Then she ran away. By the time the police came she was gone. I looked around as I thought she might have been in the garden and she wasn’t.”

Natasha said her dog had never run away before and she worried she might run into the road. However luckily the police found her and she was returned without any obvious injuries.