Bed imprisonment attack 'truly evil' (From Penarth Times)

Bed imprisonment attack 'truly evil'

A PENARTH man was jailed this week for tying his former partner to their four-poster bed in an act of revenge after they split up.

Damien Holder, aged 47, who worked at his family's menswear business AC Holder and Sons on Windsor Road, donned a mask to break into his former home while Alison Love was asleep.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Ms Love, a 44-year-old employment law expert and partner in a legal firm, woke in the early hours of November 6 to find a man in a Hallowe'en mask and balaclava standing over her bed.

Prosecuting, Martyn Kelly said: "Her bedroom was in darkness. It was Holder, although she didn't immediately realise it.

"He had put on a Hallowe'en mask and dark balaclava and started to secure her to the bed.

"She struggled and hit out at her attacker's face. She pulled the latex mask and balaclava off and realised it was Holder.

"She continued to struggle but he was too strong."

The court heard how he tied her to the bed using stockings, neckties and a dressing gown cord.

Mr Kelly added: "Ms Love said he sounded calm as he spoke.

"She remained tied up for 15 minutes, all the time fearing serious consequences and perhaps even death."

The court heard that the pair had split up after 10 years together, leaving Holder feeling "helpless".

The 47-year-old had previously given up his job to look after the couple's two young children while Ms Love was the main breadwinner.

Stephen Clarke, defending, said: "He can't properly explain why it happened.

"His only thought process was that he wanted her to feel how he felt and this was the only way."

Holder, of Jasper Close, Llandaff, Cardiff, admitted false imprisonment and was jailed for two and a half years.