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A man attacked his partner in their car and a hotel lobby while they were on a weekend away. Andrew Bishop, 42, then used "utterly disgraceful" racist language towards the hotel receptionist who called the police. Paul Hewitt, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court how Bishop and his partner at the time had gone away for what was meant to be a "pleasant and celebratory" weekend away at the Tŷ Hotel in Newport . On February 16, 2023, they went to the Potters Pub in Newport before heading to a second bar. The court heard how Bishop went to the toilet and she became worried about what he would be like when he emerged from the toilet due to previous incidents when she'd spoken to other people. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . When he came out, Mr Hewitt detailed how his demeanour had changed and his former partner therefore tried to leave by calling a taxi. However, Bishop stopped her and insisted that he drove them back to the hotel. On the way back, the court heard how Bishop drove along the motorway "erratically", then the victim suffered a large blow to her face before feeling her mouth fill with blood. She then witnessed Bishop punching the windscreen of the car. Mr Hewitt explained how Bishop then left the motorway and pulled onto a dark road where the woman tried to get out the car when he grabbed her and threw her over the bonnet of the car and then back into the car where they continued to the hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, she threw herself out of the car, ran into the lobby of the hotel, and asked the receptionist, Mr Javid, to call the police. Bishop proceeded to drive his car right up to the front of the hotel and followed her into the lobby. The court was then shown CCTV footage of them arriving into the hotel car park and into the hotel reception. Mr Hewitt told the court how Bishop said to the receptionist: "Go to the phone while you can you pa** c**t." In the footage you can see Bishop pulling the woman jacket and then proceeding to punch and kick her on the floor. He then pushes the receptionist and pulls her across the floor removing a lump of her hair and leaving blood marks across the reception floor. Mr Hewitt told the court how she suffered a fractured eye socket, along with reduced vision in one eye, bruising to her spine and abdomen, and a wound to her eyebrow and cheek In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said: "I have been on what feels like a rollercoaster of emotions and I feel deeply betrayed by someone I trusted. "It has changed me but has not broken me. I'm proud of myself for not letting this destroy me. I believe he is more than his mistakes and I have made the choice to forgive him to let go of the anger that would only keep me stuck in the past." Mr Evans, for Bishop, said his client had said it "broke his heart" to watch the CCTV, explaining how they had been "best friends" but drink and drugs had ruined it. Mr Evans also detailed how his client was going through an assessment for ADHD and was trying to make the most out of his time in prison. Bishop, of Glyn Eiddew, Pentwyn has 21 previous convictions including for assault occasioning actual bodily ham, common assault, battery, and sexual assault. When sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: "You delivered a series of fast and hard punches to her face, you then kicked her in the face and head twice. You then left her alone and walked away. You then dragged her by her hair across the floor and Mr Javid heard you saying: "Is this what you wanted?"" Judge Crowther called the language he used towards the receptionist "utterly disgraceful and appalling". Bishop was sentenced to a total of seven years and one month in prison, and a restraining order was put in place to prevent Bishop from contacting the complainant. Officer in the case, Detective Constable Danielle Terblanche of Gwent Police , said: "I'd like to commend the strength and courage of the victim in case. Her resilience and resolve throughout the investigation have ensured that a violent man is rightly behind bars. "The assault carried out by Bishop was horrific and vile, causing serious and lasting injuries to his then-girlfriend. "Nobody should have to endure the threat of violence or acts of violence from anyone, let alone from their own partner. “Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. If you, or someone you know if a victim of domestic abuse, we urge you to come forward to report it. We have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
