A wellness retreat proprietor who launched a corrosive chemical onto a guest's face before escaping across Europe to evade capture has been given an 18-month prison term. Dean Mayze, aged 38, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm after a December 2022 chemical assault that caused severe injuries to a man.
Details of the Vicious Attack and Immediate Aftermath
During a sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, the court learned that Mayze, from Abercave in Wales, threw a corrosive substance at Kiefer Price's face at the Hafan-y-Coed spiritual retreat following a dispute between the two individuals. Mr Price described his eyes as 'exploding with pain' and required intensive medical intervention to prevent permanent vision loss.
The Escalating Dispute Over Accommodation Conditions
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue explained that Mr Price was a guest renting a room from Mayze, who owned the retreat site. Mr Price became dissatisfied with the room's conditions, deeming it uninhabitable due to a lack of bathing facilities and heating, leading him to cancel his rental agreement and depart.
When Mr Price attempted to retrieve his bicycles from a locked storage cupboard on the property, he messaged Mayze on Facebook without response. He then forced the shed door open to collect his bikes. Upon returning for the final bicycle, Mayze and his son confronted him.
The Moment of the Chemical Assault
Ms Donohue detailed how an angry Mayze questioned Mr Price about the damaged door before advancing and hurling a blue container toward him. The container held a 'very strong alkaline' liquid that splashed onto Mr Price's face, into his nostrils, and both eyes, leaving him gasping for breath and feeling as though his eyes were exploding.
Mayze's partner subsequently drove Mr Price to a nearby accident and emergency department, where medical staff confirmed chemical injuries causing corneal defects and abrasions to both eyes. Mr Price underwent an intensive treatment regimen to avert complete blindness.
Europe-Wide Police Pursuit and Eventual Arrest
Following the attack, Mayze fled the United Kingdom to avoid arrest, sparking a transnational police manhunt across Europe. Bank transactions in his name were tracked to Dublin, France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece before his eventual apprehension in Romania in July 2025.
He remained in custody at a Romanian prison before being transferred to HMP Wormwood Scrubs and then Swansea Prison. Mayze spent over two years evading authorities but was finally located hiding in Romania, where police arrested him on September 19, 2025, nearly three years post-offence.
Court Proceedings and Final Sentencing
Mayze appeared in court on January 13, 2026, denying a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He instead pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm, which the court accepted. At Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, he received an 18-month imprisonment sentence.
Detective Inspector Christine Beaton commented: 'Today's sentencing concludes a protracted and intricate investigation that brought Dean Mayze before the courts to answer for his abhorrent actions in 2022. I extend gratitude to the investigation team for their relentless efforts in repatriating Mayze to the UK and to the public for aiding our appeal to locate this dangerous individual. We refuse to condone violence in any form within Dyfed-Powys, and this outcome demonstrates our unwavering commitment to pursuing such offenders.'
