‘I can’t go out on my own after what my ex did to me’

Rhys Chalmers subjected his ex-partner to a sickening string of abuse

A woman whose ex-partner made her life hell has told how she can no longer leave the house on her own. Rhys Chalmers, 46, of Penrhys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was in a relationship with the mother when he repeatedly assaulted her.

Things got so disturbing that he poured urine over her from a bottle, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Wednesday. The court heard how the defendant would regularly physically abuse his then-partner, usually after he’d drank excessive amounts of alcohol.

Bethan Evans, prosecuting, told the court how when the pair got together there didn’t seem to be any major issues but she told how Chalmers gradually began to become angry after drinking.

She detailed the first violent incident on January 18, 2025, when the couple had both been in her room drinking alcohol when Chalmers became more and more intoxicated. Ms Evans said his demeanor changed and he began using aggressive words.

The next thing the woman remembered was being on the floor and Chalmers punching her face two or three times, causing injuries to her eyes. She said that kind of incident became so frequent she was unable to recall exact dates or times for each incident.

The court heard how on May 12, 2025, the couple had been drinking in the bedroom when she left the room and Chalmers followed her with a bottle of yellow liquid which she later realised was urine. Ms Evans told the court Chalmers forced the woman down and poured the bottle over her.

A few weeks later, on June 21, 2025, the couple had been drinking together in the bedroom again when he suddenly punched her to the face. On July 16 he kicked and punched her off the bed, causing eye injuries which she had to use make-up to hide.

Ms Evans also told the court that during the course of the relationship Chalmers damaged his partner’s belongings, including smashing two TV screens. She said he would also use derogatory language towards her and made false accusations about her being unfaithful.

Chalmers wouldn’t let his partner go anywhere alone and would take her belongings and not give them back to her, including her bank cards, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement which Ms Evans summarised to the court, it was heard how as a result of her relationship with Chalmers, the woman now has to be escorted by her son or mum wherever she goes. She also said she couldn’t see herself engaging in an intimate relationship or trusting a man again.

Chalmers, of Heol Mair in Penrhys, has three previous convictions for four offences including for causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage. His last appearance before the courts was in 2024.

He pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour of a physical nature and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour of a non-physical nature.

Solomon Hartley, representing Chalmers, said his client had worked all his life and did not have a bad record. He added that this recent offending had related to “a recent downturn in his life” which had caused his alcohol problem to spiral.

Judge Lucy Crowther said: “It seems you have been overwhelmed by an unhealthy addiction to alcohol and you do not have an understanding of what a healthy relationship is.”

Judge Crowther sentenced Chalmers to 25 months in prison. She also issued a restraining order in respect of his former partner for three years.