A CHEF slapped and bit his partner before posting pictures of himself on Facebook standing on the edge of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a court heard.

Appearing from custody for sentencing Sion Goodman Williams, of Bridge Street, Llangollen, who had already pleaded guilty to four charges at an earlier appearance, sat in the dock as details of his violent relationship with Caitlyn Brooks were revealed.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting at North East Wales Magistrates Court, said the couple had been in a relationship for five years and had two young children but things had deteriorated after Williams began to drink heavily and take cocaine leading to them splitting up in February 2019.

He had accused her of cheating and already been violent towards her on several occasions when on March 8 she returned home where Williams was looking after the children to find the house in a mess.

An argument started as Williams filmed Ms Brooks on his phone before matters escalated and he threw a glass which smashed showering one of the children in water before he kicked Ms Brooks causing her to fall over when she was carrying a child.

He then slapped her across the face, bit her right ear and top of her head and gripped her around the neck before also smashing her phone.

Ms Brooks was able to escape and tried to alert her neighbours before coming back to the house where she contacted the police and Williams left in tears.

After he was arrested by the police and released on bail Williams, 35, began contacting her and a number of her friends and family saying he was going to end his life.

On March 21 Ms Jackson described how he had updated his status on Facebook with a picture of him standing on the aqueduct close to Trevor Basin and after police were called to the scene Williams was found in a nearby pub with a quantity of cocaine on him.

She added that Williams had been handed a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in August last year after he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Williams entered guilty pleas to charges of harassment without violence and possession of a class A drug on March 22 along with admitting assault by beating and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

A probation report from Angharad Williams said Williams "fully accepted" his behaviour was unacceptable and described how he had "suicidal thoughts".

Euros Jones, defending, said his client worked long hours as a "talented chef making ends meet" which had led to his drinking and drug taking.

Reading out his offences, magistrates chairwoman Deborah McKinnel said: "It doesn't look good does it?"

However she declined to activate his suspended sentence for the driving offences and instead added 70 hours of unpaid work to his original tariff of 200.

Williams was also handed an 18 month community order and ordered to complete a 20 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and attend a building better relationships course.

He was also ordered to carry out a further 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £85 costs, an £85 victim surcharge and pay Ms Brooks compensation of £198 for her phone.