Man given community order after strangling woman at Tenby holiday park; victim quit university

# What happened Oliver Smith-Jones, 21, of March Hywel, Rhos, Pontardawe, admitted intentionally strangling a woman while they were staying at Kiln Park holiday park in Tenby on October 19. Photos shown to Haverfordwest Magistrates Court recorded reddening of the woman's neck and bruising to her left arm.

# Victim impact In a personal statement the victim said the attack made her feel scared and betrayed the trust between her and Owen. She reported ongoing anxiety about leaving the house and said she has left university because of the stress caused by the incident.

# Court outcome and sentence Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order rather than jail. Requirements include:

• 150 hours of unpaid work
• 120 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring
• 20 days of rehabilitation activity

Additionally, the court placed a two-year restraining order on Smith-Jones to protect the victim. He must pay £500 compensation to the victim, a £114 victim surcharge, and £85 in costs.

# Defence case points Smith-Jones pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and expressed remorse, according to his defence. His lawyer told the court that misuse of alcohol and emotional immaturity significantly contributed to his behaviour. The defence also highlighted his previous good character and said he was ashamed of what occurred.

# Magistrates' reasoning Magistrates said manual strangulation is a serious offence that could have warranted custody. They decided a community order was appropriate because of Smith-Jones's age and previous good character.

# Practical implications For the victim: the restraining order and compensation provide legal protections and a measure of redress, but she reports significant personal disruption, including leaving university and ongoing anxiety.

For the defendant: the sentence combines punishment, supervision, and interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related offending and rehabilitating behaviour. Breach of the restraining order or community requirements could prompt further legal consequences.

# What this means locally The case was heard in Haverfordwest Magistrates Court and took place at Kiln Park in Tenby. The reporting included images used in court to document the physical injuries sustained by the victim.

# Short summary A 21-year-old admitted strangling a woman during a stay at a Tenby holiday park. The court handed down a community order with unpaid work, alcohol monitoring and rehabilitation days, plus a two-year restraining order and financial penalties. The victim reports lasting anxiety and has left university as a result.