A man has been sentenced to prison for a brutal assault on his former girlfriend that resulted in severe injuries across her body, including pushing her face into cat litter in an attempt to force her to eat it.
Jared Warlow, 29, attacked his ex-partner using various weapons, strangled her, stripped off her clothes, bit off part of her ear, and compelled her to put her face in a cat litter box, as stated in Swansea Crown Court. Despite his history of violence towards partners, Warlow claimed self-defense, alleging that the victim initiated the violence when he declined her sexual advances.
The victim was swiftly taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where medical professionals identified a range of injuries, such as bilateral jaw fractures, six broken ribs, spinal fractures, multiple liver injuries, a deformed right ear missing its top portion, facial bruises and swelling, as well as injuries to her body and arms, and a severe knee injury.
The woman now suffers from tinnitus, a misshapen ear, chipped teeth, and has lost feeling in her face from the nose bridge down to her neck due to permanent nerve damage. The judge condemned Warlow’s actions as “sadistic” and “unspeakably horrific,” sentencing him to 16 years as a dangerous offender.
Prosecutor Craig Jones revealed that Warlow and the victim had been in a brief relationship after meeting at a pub. On the day of the assault, Warlow, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, launched a violent attack that lasted about 45 minutes, during which he repeatedly struck, disrobed, and assaulted the woman.
Using various objects as weapons, including a ladder, a fan, and a vacuum cleaner, Warlow continued the assault, threatening to harm the victim further. He even dragged her outside, naked, before physically assaulting her again, including biting part of her ear off.
Following the traumatic incident, the victim sought refuge with a neighbor, and the police were alerted. Warlow had fled the scene but was eventually apprehended. In a statement read in court, the victim expressed profound pain and humiliation caused by the assault, leading to persistent anxiety and depression.
Warlow, from Llanelli, had previously admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and has a criminal record involving violent offenses, including assaults on previous partners. His defense lawyer stated that the incident was exacerbated by Warlow’s intoxication and expressed remorse on behalf of his client.
In an unprecedented move, the judge issued a 16-year extended sentence for Warlow, emphasizing the seriousness of his violent behavior towards women. The sentence includes 12 years in custody followed by a four-year license period, with the possibility of parole after serving two-thirds of the custodial term.