SOUTH Wales Police have released the mugshot of a man who attacked his ex girlfriend so violently, she believed his intention was to kill her.
Marcus Hadley, 35, of The Uplands, Rogerstone, in Newport was sentenced on January 6 at Newport Crown Court, to five years in prison for a “campaign of abuse” against his ex partner.
He was convicted on November 27, 2024, of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour, making a threat to kill and assault by beating after a jury found him guilty following trial.
Defence barrister Hywel Davies said in court that Hadley has struggled to accept the jury’s guilty verdict.
He also rolled his eyes when Prosecutor Rebecca Griffiths read out his ex’s statement to the court, which described the lasting damage Hadley had to her life, as she now suffers with insomnia, PTSD and depression.
The attack that led to Hadley’s arrest dates back to July 2024, when he entered his ex partner’s bedroom after inviting himself into her home address before threatening to kill her with a knife.
“You were asked to leave, but you refused. As she lay on her bed you went upstairs, grabbed her by her hair, bit her face and produced a knife and you threatened to kill her,” said Judge Daniel Williams while addressing the defendant.
“While she was hiding from you, you boiled the kettle and threatened to burn her with it… and threatened to shave her head.”
After meeting on a dating app, Hadley would often strangle her, dictate what she could wear, kick her and hit her.
The court heard that he became jealous after a man asked for her number at the pub, and so strangled her, and even accused her once of looking at another man while they were in a cocktail bar, which also led to him strangling her.
Judge Williams said that strangulation appeared to be Hadley’s ultimate method in which he would exercise his control.
The abuse got so bad that at one point, the victim’s brother would sit outside her house, so that he could be there in the event of yet another attack.
On March 24, Hadley was strangling his ex on their bed, and only stopped when the victim pointed out that his six-year-old daughter was stood in the doorway, watching.
Hadley will spend half of his five year sentence in custody, and will spend the second half released on licence.
Upon his release, a five-year restraining order will be activated.
The court also heard that Hadley has a criminal record, with six previous convictions for seven offences, which include battery in 2022.