A THUG who portrayed himself as a “good guy” and “Prince Charming” broke his fiancée’s ribs and left her covered in bruises in a despicable campaign of domestic abuse.
Jamie Thomas, 30, laughed at Laura Williams in court on Thursday as he was caged for three years for a “prolonged and persistent” torrent of abuse towards his ex-partner.
Jamie Thomas (right) abused his fiancée Laura Williams (left) throughout their five-year relationshipLaura Williams/Media Wales
Laura suffered broken ribs, bruising and verbal abuse during her relationship with ThomasLaura Williams/Media Wales
Laura Williams/Media WalesLaura suffered a horrific bite which left a huge bruise and scar[/caption]
Pictures reveal the “appalling extent” of Thomas’ abuse towards Laura, who was left “shaking” when she faced the brute in court, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
“He’s a narcissist through and through,” Laura told WalesOnline.
“And when he got sent down he was laughing at me.
“I was shaking. I looked at him and he looked at me and I just started crying. I just thought ‘you’ve done all this, you’ve put me through all this.’”
Thomas, who had a history of abusing romantic partners, convinced Laura that he was a changed man, and even referred to himself as “Prince Charming” when the two started dating in 2018.
The couple then became engaged a year later.
But less than 12 months into their relationship, Thomas became violent towards his partner, and even threatened to commit suicide if she left him.
The thug’s behaviour then spiralled into a campaign of vicious abuse, which saw Thomas break the victim’s ribs and drag her by her hair.
He would post private details about his fiancée online, and threatened to “f*** you [her] up every time I see you” in public.
Thomas’ lawyers argued that drug misuse had a factor in his violent mood swings.
I was shaking. I looked at him and he looked at me and I just started crying. I just thought ‘you’ve done all this, you’ve put me through all this’
Laura Williams
After a turbulent two years following their engagement, Laura and Thomas separated in October 2022 before reconciling in January 2023.
A few weeks after, Thomas bit her left breast after Laura rejected his advances – leaving a huge bruise and now a heavy scar.
Despite her injury, Laura said she was embarrassed to seek medical attention.
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
Always keep your phone nearby.
Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
If you are in danger, call 999.
Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
A couple of months later, the victim awoke to find Thomas “smashing” her phone after he noticed another man sending her messages.
Enraged, Thomas then grabbed his partner by the hair and began dragging her through the hallway.
He then called her “fat”, “ugly” and a “slag” and punched Laura twice in stomach, breaking her ribs.
The court heard she was crying “you’ve hurt me” but that the defendant showed little remorse.
Laura, after receiving support from Women’s Aid, and being treated for broken ribs, reported her abuse to cops.
“It started with Women’s Aid when I was in hospital with my ribs,” she continued.
“I told them I fell down the stairs and they called me in. From there the police said I needed to report it.
“It went from there. Overall it took five hours to go through it all.”
ABUSER CAGED
Thomas was jailed to three years and three months for a count of assault by beating.
The brute was also sentenced to 18 months for assault for the incident where he sunk his teeth into Laura’s breast, and two months for slapping her.
He was sentenced to two one month sentences for malicious communication and for criminal damage and slapped with a 10-year restraining order.
Despite being jailed, Ms Williams says she has been mentally affected for life by the relationship and is still being treated for her physical injuries.
She said: “It’s still hanging over me. It was meant to go to trial so until this week I’ve been preparing, doing pre-trial, so it’s all been over me and I wasn’t allowed to mention anything that happened.
“It’s a lot to keep to yourself and now I want to scream from the rooftops.
The Sun Online has reached out to Women’s Aid for comment.
Laura Williams/Media WalesLaura’s bruising after a torrent of abuse from brute Thomas[/caption]
Laura Williams/Media WalesThomas broke two of Laura’s ribs after a heated row[/caption]
Jamie Thomas was jailed following a ‘prolonged and persistent assault’ on partner LauraMedia Wales Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
