A MAN described as "a violent, obsessive bully" who punched and spat at his partner has been put behind bars.

Benjamin Merrett, 37, spat and kicked his partner Michaela Shapley in jealous rages that left her self-harming.

In a tragic impact statement, Ms Shapley said she would buy Merrett gifts, including drugs, to keep him from attacking her, and that she pleaded with him to attack her on any part of her body bar her face.

Most shockingly, in 2019, Merrett, who had a host of previous convictions against women, including committing common assault on a 14 year-old girl.

Punched in the face leaving a horrendous bruise

In August 2021, Merrett returned to Ms Shapley’s flat in the early hours of the morning intoxicated and in a jealous rage thinking she had been speaking to other men. This was when he punched her in the face leaving a horrendous bruise to her eye.

Then, in September of the same year, Merrett committed a sustained assault, spitting at Ms Shapley, striking her leg, and throwing a bag at her.

Penarth Times:

Monster Benjamin Merrett punched his partner in the face leaving a horrible bruise. Image supplied by Ms Shapley

'I self-harmed in desperation when he refused to leave my flat'

In a victim impact statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court during sentencing on Wednesday, April 12, Ms Shapley said she did not understand why Merrett had such a hold over her.

“I am really struggling with the vicious cycle," she said. "I do not understand why he has such a hold over me, I experienced panic attacks when he raised his voice, I previously self-harmed in desperation when he refused to leave my flat.”

Ms Shapley went on to say she would plead with Merrett not to hit her face.

“When he assaulted me I spent every minute of the day trying to convince my friends and family that I had done it. I sometimes felt like telling him, ‘if you feel like assaulting me, please do not do it to my face, anywhere but my face’.”

Penarth Times:

Michaela Shapley experienced panic attacks when he raised his voice. Image supplied by Ms Shapley

'Violent, obsessive bully with no respect for women'

On sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson described Merrett as a bully with no respect for women.

“When it comes to the women in your life you are a violent and obsessive bully,” said Judge Hobson.

“You took away this women’s (Ms Shapley’s) dignity and you are a risk to women.”

Penarth Times:

Merrett lived at his mothers’ house in Laburnum Way, Penarth

Merrett, who lived at his mothers’ house in Laburnum Way in Penarth, pleaded guilty to committing actual bodily harm at Cardiff Crown Court on December 2, 2022.

He was proved guilty by trial of assault by beating on April 6.

Merrett was given 16 months in prison for the ABH and five months in prison for the assault by beating, to run consecutively, giving a total of 21 months in prison.

He was also placed under a five year restraining order not to go near or to contact Ms Shapley.