Father punched and kicked his children and shouted at them for being noisy

The defendant caused his children to feel ‘sad’ and ‘anxious’ due to his aggressive behaviour, which left them retreating to their bedrooms in fear

A father who punched, kicked and slapped his children after losing his temper left them feeling “sad” and “anxious” in the house. His children said they were relieved their father was no longer living in the house.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the defendant was abusive towards his children, who described him as “controlling” and “angry”. He frequently shouted at the children for being noisy, which caused them to feel “anxious and frightened” of him.

He would smack the children on the legs and play roughly with them, leaving them with marks and injuries. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

When he would lose his temper, the children would retreat to their bedrooms in fear.

One of the children described the defendant becoming angry with them and would punch, slap and kick.

He punched her to the legs, causing pain and bruising and she was struck by her father on a number of occasions, including kicking her to the knee. She said she was often “scared and upset”.

Another child said his father shouted, swore and became angry towards him and his siblings and hit them around two to three times a week.

He said the defendant slapped and punched him, leaving handprints and bruising. One child said his father hit him to his arms and legs, and described being slapped and punched causing him pain and marks.

The oldest child said the defendant dragged her upstairs by her hair, causing her pain and distress. He also smacked her legs. In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Sali Harmes, the children’s mother said life had been easier since their father left the house.

She said: “The atmosphere in the house is different, we’re no longer waiting for the next raised voice or slammed door. Life seems easier and the children are happier and not anxious any more. They sleep and eat better, communicate better.

“They miss him but they understand why he needs to be punished. The house is calm and children are allowed to be children and it’s lovely watching them play together.”

The children said they felt happier they were no longer living with their father, because there was less shouting and they didn’t have to deal with his moods.

One of them said: “We miss him but we don’t feel scared anymore and feel less anxious at home.”

The defendant later pleaded guilty to four counts of causing/assaulting/ill treating/neglecting/abandoning of child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.

In mitigation, Alice Sykes said her client had “poor emotional control” and his experience in the armed forces had left him with trauma.

The barrister said the defendant is now having counselling through a veterans charity to address his aggressive behaviour. Ms Sykes added: “He is deeply deeply ashamed of his behaviour.”

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “You treated those children abominably. Children are a joy… Of course they drive you to distraction from time to time but that’s the nature of a child. Treating them in the way you did was a disgrace.”

The defendant was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to carry out a rehabilitation activity requirement, to pay costs of £150, and made subject to a restraining order for three years.

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