A delivery driver attacked two women in a dispute over the ownership of a cat, a court has heard. Liam Evans assaulted the mother and daughter after bursting into a property demanding to know where the cat was.
Attack over a cat
Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the assault happened on March 17, 2024, and resulted from "an argument regarding the ownership of a cat". On the day in question, the two complainants - a mother and daughter - were at the home of a relative on Park Avenue in Capel Hendre when there was a knock on the door.
The court heard the caller was the partner of the defendant, and that she wanted to know if the occupants had seen a black and white cat. A short time later Evans arrived at the property and began banging on the front door before forcing his way inside, grabbing one of the complainants about the neck and "shouting and swearing, and demanding the cat back".
Court details and sentencing
The court heard the complainant's mother intervened and tried to push Evans away, and he responded by gripping the mum around the neck "with force" and punching her in the mouth while "continuing to shout about the location of the cat". Evans was forced into the hallway of the property, where he again grabbed the mother and pushed her into a wall before leaving. The matter was reported to police.
Liam Evans, of Ffordd y Glowyr, Ammanford, had previously pleaded guilty on the day of trial to battery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he returned to the dock for sentencing. He has four previous convictions for six offences including inflicting grievous bodily harm, battery, and assaulting an emergency worker.
David Singh, for Evans, described the events as "an impulsive act of stupidity causing by something as innocuous as the ownership of a cat". He said it may be that the defendant "had some involvement in looking after the cat and was not happy with what was going on", but said he now realises his actions were completely unacceptable and misguided. The barrister said references before the court spoke of someone who was "at heart, very much a family man", and he said Evans learned his lesson and wanted to get back to work as a delivery driver to provide for his children and partner.
Judge Catherine Richards said she accepted the incident had not been planned and that the defendant was remorseful for what he had done. She told Evans she was not going to send him to prison. With a 10 per cent discount for his guilty pleas, Evans was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.
