A 34-year-old man from Risca has appeared before Newport Magistrates Court facing serious charges of intentional strangulation and assault against a woman.
Lewis Johnson appeared in the dock this week as the case was formally heard by magistrates in Newport. The charges relate to an alleged attack on a woman, with intentional strangulation being one of the most serious offences listed.
Intentional strangulation became a specific criminal offence in England and Wales under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, recognising the particular danger it poses to victims. Prosecutors can pursue the charge independently of other assault allegations, and convictions can carry significant prison sentences.
Johnson, of Risca in Caerphilly county borough, has been accused of both the strangulation offence and a separate assault charge. The case is in its early stages following his appearance at the magistrates court, where more serious criminal matters are often sent up to crown court level depending on how proceedings develop.
Newport Magistrates Court handles a wide range of criminal cases from across the Gwent area, including parts of south east Wales. No further details about the circumstances of the alleged offences have been released at this stage.
The case is expected to continue through the courts in the coming weeks.