A man has been jailed for 27 months after taking part in a group attack on a driver in Cwmbran, in which the victim was punched, kicked and struck with an object he believed was a brick.
Robbie Williams, 30, of Forgeside, Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm following the incident on April 29 this year. The victim, Mark Cook, was initially distracted by an acquaintance before three men set upon him in his car, where his partner was a passenger and began screaming.
Attack details
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that liquid was thrown at Mr Cook and he was pulled out of his car. He was then punched and kicked by the assailants and hit to the head by an object which he said felt like a brick. The next day, Mr Cook noticed he was missing a tooth.
Prosecutor Pamela Kaiga said Williams was later identified on CCTV footage, but the other two assailants could not be identified. Mr Cook later described how the assault left him with blood pouring down his face and psychological harm.
Sentencing remarks
The court heard Williams has 33 previous convictions for offences including battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery, affray and assaulting emergency workers. He was also in breach of a suspended prison sentence as he was on licence at the time of the assault.
Sentencing, recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "This was a cowardly assault by a group of you on a man driving in his car with his partner. You should be ashamed. You were intoxicated at the time. You clearly knew each other but the root cause of all this may never be known. It's clear this was planned."
Williams was sentenced to a total of 27 months imprisonment and was made subject to a restraining order for seven years.
