Man headbutted girlfriend in front of her son on holiday

A man headbutted his partner as a holiday in west Wales descended into ugly abuse witnessed by the victim's teenage son. Ewan Holme-Slater, from east Sussex, had been in a relationship with the woman for six months when they, her son, and his son travelled to spend Christmas together in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.

Police were called at 10.32pm on Christmas Day by the victim's son who reported Holme-Slater, 39, had assaulted his mother. When officers attended their accommodation they arrested Holme-Slater who claimed he had "done nothing wrong", Swansea Crown Court heard.

Earlier that day the group had gone out for Christmas dinner in Fishguard and the victim had felt a waiter was being racist towards Holme-Slater and his son so she asked for the staff member's name. Shortly afterwards when they were leaving the restaurant Holme-Slater told his partner: "You almost got me and my son into a fight and arrested." He called her a "sl**", a "bitch", and "h***y", a derogatory term for white people. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.

As they entered the victim's vehicle Holme-Slater continued to shout. She responded that all she had done was ask for the waiter's name as she felt the Christmas experience had been ruined. While she was driving them back to the holiday let Holme-Slater tried to grab the steering wheel and threatened: "I will crash us all into a tree."

The yelling continued at the accommodation so the victim drove away with her son. After Holme-Slater called her saying he wanted them to be a family she returned but noticed he seemed to be more drunk. Empty bottles of vodka and an almost-finished bottle of Jack Daniel's whisky were strewn around. Holme-Slater shouted that the victim must sleep in her car.

He punched her to the side of her head, grabbed her throat, then punched her to the back of her head. Her son fled the room and she tried to follow but he headbutted her to the nose. Eventually she found her son and they managed to leave the property together. The victim was left with a large cut to her nose and marks to her face.

Holme-Slater, of Eversfield Place in St Leonards-on-Sea, had 43 previous offences on his record, mostly for crimes involving dishonesty, driving, and drugs. He pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) over the Christmas attack but then tried to change his plea after learning the victim no longer supported the prosecution. After receiving further advice he stuck with his guilty plea.

Prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton said the Crown Prosecution Service continued with the case because the victim's withdrawal statement did not deny the attack happened. It did state Holme-Slater "needs love and compassion" due to his traumatic upbringing. Andrew Evans, mitigating, said: "All parties travelled to west Wales with the intention of participating in as normal and memorable a family Christmas as possible. Sadly it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

"The defendant's upbringing was a difficult one, to say the least, for many reasons. He has no previous convictions for violence. He hopes to recommence the relationship as soon as possible. There is no application for a restraining order. However he understands it will take some time to win the trust of the complainant and her son if they are become a family again."

Judge Catherine Richards took into account that the attack happened in the presence of a child, the racial element, and the defendant's lengthy criminal record. She imposed a jail term of 10 months.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.