A man has been given a suspended prison sentence after he attacked his cousin and a dog with a golf club and a bat following a dispute over whether the animal had bitten a child.
Robert Edwards, 32, of Pillmawr Road, Newport, went to his cousin's home on the afternoon of August 5, 2024, where her daughter and his own son were staying. He had received a message indicating that a dog at the property had bitten his son.
Court hearing details
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard that Edwards was in a "temper" when he walked into the house and tried to attack the dog. When his cousin tried to intervene, he pushed her so that she fell to the floor. He also chased the dog upstairs and hit his cousin to the back of the head with a bat.
The court heard that Edwards also smashed a mirror inside the property as neighbours, who heard the commotion, tried to intervene. The victim sustained a cut to her eye and bruising to her arms. Edwards later admitted to police that he was "angry" during the incident.
Guilty plea and sentence
Edwards pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to be sentenced.
Recorder Gregory Bull KC told him: "You went into your cousin's home, you were in a temper believing a dog had savaged your child. What you did was out of all proportion. You tried to attack the dog and then attacked your cousin."
Edwards was handed an eight-month prison sentence, which will be suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim and £1,000 in costs. He must complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and comply with a restraining order prohibiting direct or indirect contact with his victim for a period of five years.
