Matthew Mills 30

Description

Matthew Mills jailed for more than four years after strangling partner and breaching sex offender rules

A registered sex offender described by a judge as “a genuine, serious risk to women” has been jailed for 50 months.

Matthew Mills, 30, of Argoed, Brymbo, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence after admitting intentional strangulation, assault, two breaches of a domestic abuse protection order (DAPO) and two failures to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

On 4 December 2022, Mills strangled his then-partner Emily Griffiths for around 60 seconds after she returned later than agreed from a Christmas night out. He shouted at her, became aggressive and grabbed her throat despite her attempts to calm him. She freed herself but he repeated the attack a short time later. The relationship ended the following day.

Mills was already a registered sex offender until 2030 after a 2020 conviction for a sexual act with a child under 16. He breached those registration conditions twice in 2025.

He then breached a DAPO protecting another former partner, Kayley Davies. On 2 January this year, during an argument, he threatened to punch her, pushed her into a countertop and pulled her fingers back as she tried to open a door, causing pain. On 6 January he contacted her twice by phone while she was at a McDonald’s in Flintshire, telling her he loved her despite being prohibited from doing so and after she said she was cutting contact.

Prosecutors noted Mills had 20 previous convictions for 52 offences.

Defending, Philip Tully said: “He’s fully aware of the position he now finds himself in. Mr Mills accepts that breaching any court order is serious. At the time of the commission of these offences he was going through a very difficult time in his life. Regarding the breach of the DAPO that involved him meeting – by consent – his ex-partner Kayley Davies, he accepts the common assault would have been highly unpleasant.”

Mr Tully added that his client recognised the strangulation of Ms Griffiths would also have been “highly unpleasant” for the victim. “He accepts that at the time, this was a volatile relationship. He is determined to turn his life around and stop offending. During the time he’s been on remand, he has completed an anger management course, healthier choices course, a mental health wellbeing course and a communication skills course. He also has a trusted job as a cleaner on the wing. He wants to go back to his business as a car mechanic and buying and selling cars.” He accepted what he did was wrong and that he deserved to be punished.

Judge Simon Mills told the defendant: “You’ve embarked on a life path which is leaving, frankly, a trail of misery, distress, fear and all the rest that goes with it. You’re proving yourself to be a genuine, serious risk to women. If you harm a woman in the future, I promise you any of the Judges here in north Wales will consider treating you as a dangerous offender and that may lead to a lengthy extended sentence.”

Mills was sentenced to a total of 50 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a seven-year DAPO to protect Ms Griffiths.