A transgender woman who appeared on a Welsh TV documentary about her transition has walked free despite launching brutal attacks against two girlfriends, after a court was told she would be ‘vulnerable’ inside prison.
April Welsh, 37, drunkenly throttled one partner and pushed her to the floor before punching and kicking her on January 3, 2020, a court heard.
The repeat domestic abuser from Blackwood, Caerphilly then attacked a second girlfriend just weeks later – kicking her in the face after knocking her to the floor.
Welsh had appeared on a TV programme about her transition in 2019 – and months later went on to attack the two women.
How the trans woman carried out the attack
Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said the first attack happened after Welsh and her victim had been out together in Cardiff. But the defendant later became ‘rowdy’ and ‘drunk’.
But after the pair after returning 20 miles to Blackwood, Welsh wanted to continue drinking in a pub – but her girlfriend of two years had work the next day.
Mr Griffiths said Welsh’s victim went home but was locked out. She then found Welsh drinking red wine in the town.
When Welsh returned home at 2.15am she banged on the doors before ‘running towards’ the victim in a rage.
He said: ‘She rang the doorbell and the victim went to answer. When she opened the door, the defendant ran at her, put her hands around her neck putting her on the floor.
‘She was then punched and kicked and was called a dirty s***. The victim was sat on the bed too scared to move.
‘It was only when she heard the defendant snoring that she left and went to a friend’s address for help.’
Guilty to assault
Welsh pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the attack in January 2020.
The court heard she has a previous domestic violence conviction, against her new partner following this attack.
Harry Baker, defending, said: ‘The injuries were not that bad although the incident must have been very unpleasant.’
He added that Welsh ‘expressed remorse having got involved in yet another incident’ and said she would be ‘vulnerable’ if sent to prison.
Judge sentences..
Judge Hywel James told Welsh: ‘You had been drinking heavily and in fairness to your victim, she had sought to assist you during that day.
‘I’ve seen photographs of the injuries sustained and they show cuts, bruises and a swollen ear.
‘I have taken into account that two months after this you were involved in a similar incident with a new partner.
‘That is a matter which has been dealt with but it shows a pattern of offending.’
Welsh was hand a sentence of 21 weeks suspended for 12 months, meaning she will not go to prison unless she breaks the law again in that time.
