Birmingham woman scared to walk dog after ex-boyfriend smashed head against fridge

A woman was left too afraid to even walk her dog after she was traumatised by violent attacks from her ex-boyfriend, a court heard. Phidel Gonzales turned up at her home twice in two weeks to sort out issues between the pair.

But on the first occasion he put his forearm across her throat and on the second he dragged her by the hair, causing her to hit her head on her fridge. The 'jealous' 36-year-old has now been jailed but had to be segregated in prison due to being 'mistreated' by other inmates who found out he was also a sex offender, a court heard.

Gonzales, of Parker Street in Edgbaston, admitted two counts of assault and was sentenced to two years and five months at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, October 22. He was also banned from contacting the victim under a ten-year restraining order.

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"You have difficulty in your relationships with women in terms of control and violence towards them," judge Kerry Maylin told him. Prosecutor Emma Rutherford said the couple had been in a relationship for a number of years but Gonzales 'changed and he became jealous' after just six months.

The first incident took place on February 8 when he turned up at the victim's home with a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey to 'sort things out', following a previous argument. Ms Rutherford said: "They had a few drinks but unfortunately matters soured between them."

She told the court Gonzales grabbed the woman's phone and then car keys, which she managed to get back, before he pushed her onto the bed and placed his arm across her throat. The victim managed to 'scramble away' and sought help from neighbours who had already called the police due to the commotion.

'He had done it that many times she was resigned to it'

"The victim said when the defendant had his arm across her throat she wasn't scared because he had done it that many times she was resigned to it, which makes her sad," said Ms Rutherford.

The next attack happened on February 19 when Gonzales returned to the woman's flat at midnight claiming he was there to fetch his clothes. Ms Rutherford said: "The defendant pushed her back into the bedroom.

"She had been eating and the defendant said 'finish your f***ing food'. He began searching the room looking for car keys. He pulled her by the hair and dragged her around the floor. The violence lasted for around five minutes."

She said the victim fled to the kitchen where Gonzales again grabbed and pulled her by the hair, causing her head to hit a fridge several times. He was ultimately forced out and later arrested.

Segregation

In a statement the victim said she had been left 'petrified', couldn't live her day-to-day life and 'can't leave the house or have a social life'. She revealed she was even too scared to walk her dog and could only take him into the garden.

The victim described having sleeping problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Gonzales has 33 previous convictions for 65 offences including stealing, sex offences and driving crimes.

Sarah Turner, defending, told the court he had 'struggles' with his mental health and was at a 'low point' at the time of committing the attacks due to not taking his medication. She added: "He has struggled with interaction with other prisoners down to his previous convictions. He has been in segregation for 45 days due to being mistreated and threatened by others."