A stranger was attacked by a cocaine-fuelled gang of men on a night out.
Huw Roberts was visiting a friend in Cardiff in the Cambrian Tap Pub on January 1, 2022, but was later viciously beaten up by Paul Healey, 47, Krewys Edwards, 28, and Anthony James, 36, in a kebab shop. During the incident he was punched and had a pane of glass thrown at him, leaving a permanent 8cm-long scar on his cheek, reports Wales Online.
This incident happened after Mr Roberts had disturbed four men gathered inside a toilet in the pub before he was chased outside and into the takeaway nearby.
Prosecutor Byron Broadstock told Cardiff Crown Court that Mr Roberts visited the Welsh capital to go for a drink with a pal at the pub on St Mary Street.
"Mr Roberts went to the toilets and there were four men inside the cubicle he tried to access," said Mr Broadstock.
"They told him to f*** off. He waited for another cubicle to become free, went in, then heard the four males leave the toilets. But some minutes later they returned and started banging and kicking his cubicle's door, shouting at him.
"He tried his best to prevent them from entering but they were able to do so and started to attack him. At that point he was able to make off and run from the pub into a takeaway on Caroline Street. Footage shows the victim was assaulted in the shop by more than three persons — others have not been apprehended — but these three defendants all played a significant role in that assault."
James grabbed Mr Roberts while Healey and Edwards battered him.
Mr Roberts tried to hide shelter behind the counter at the takeaway but James began to squirt vinegar at him.
Screams could be heard as the glass counter smashed and a pane was thrown at Mr Roberts but it remains unknown which individual was responsible for the glass attack that scarred his face.
Mr Broadstock continued: "The victim's vision was going black and his ears were ringing. He was dizzy and vomiting. He'd had very little to drink so this can only be attributed to the assault. It caused a very deep cut to the left side of his face."
The scar runs from the victim's ear to the middle of his cheek.
He said before the attack he had been planning to get a job selling cars but the wound had knocked his confidence.
"People are always looking at it," he said. "It is a constant reminder of what happened. The fact I didn't know these men puts me in constant fear that it could happen again. I haven't been going to the gym; it is affecting not just my mental health but my physical health."
The shop owner said smashed glass shattered into the food and a fridge was also damaged and broken during the attack.
He was forced to close the takeaway because of this, resulting in losses of around £3,000.
Edwards, was arrested at the scene and a bag of cocaine was found on him.
He admitted to having "a few sniffs" and drinking heavily all day but said he could not remember the assault.
James, claimed he had tried to break up the fight but the prosecutor said the footage showed him "delivering the last blow".
Healey, told police he had been assaulted earlier in the evening but only had a "gut feeling" that Mr Roberts was involved.
He also claimed that none of the punches he delivered in the takeaway had connected with Mr Roberts despite it being "quite clear" that they had, according to prosecutor Mr Broadstock.
The prosecutor added that the defendants were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and all three pleaded guilty to Section 20 unlawful wounding and affray.
Edwards also admitted criminal damage and possession of a Class A drug.
The court heard James had previous convictions for animal cruelty, supplying Class A drugs, criminal damage, battery and burglary.
Edwards had a previous grievous bodily harm (GBH) offence on his record and Healey had no other convictions.
Harry Baker, representing James, told the court his "remorseful" client had been out of trouble since 2010 and had "overcome a lot of issues on his own" after a difficult childhood in the care system.
"Despite a lack of education he has settled down, he has a good and valuable relationship, and they have a 15-year-old son who would be affected by any term of imprisonment."
Kevin Seal said his client Edwards understands he is supposed to be a "role model" for his children, aged five and one. He conceded Edwards' previous GBH was in "similar circumstances" to the kebab shop attack. But the barrister added that his client realised his behaviour had been "pathetic". Edwards, who supports his family, was concerned his father would struggle to pay his mortgage if an immediate jail term was imposed, Mr Seal told the court.
And Owen Williams, for Healey, said the 47-year-old had worked all his adult life and built a successful roofing business with his brother. "This is a case, as dreadful as it is, where the court could draw back from a sentence of immediate custody. Mr Healey had never put a foot wrong until this offence. He is a father and grandfather who provides for his family significantly."
Judge Lucy Crowther said it although it remained unclear whether the defendants were involved in the initial exchange at the pub, she said it was clear that they had followed the victim into the takeaway and carried out a "mob-handed" and "disgraceful" attack.
"You should all be really ashamed of yourselves that, as men of your age, you were behaving in that way," she said.
She sentenced each defendant to 21 months in jail suspended for two years.
James must also undergo alcohol abstinence monitoring for 100 days and complete a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am and 20 days of rehabilitation, as well as paying £200 in compensation to Mr Roberts.
Edwards and Healey must each pay £800 in compensation. The judge also ordered Edwards to pay a £100 fine over the cocaine possession. He must complete 15 days of rehabilitation and 200 hours of unpaid work, while Healey was handed 220 hours of unpaid work.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
Scots teacher left lying in corridor after being 'attacked' by pupil
Rangers legend Ally McCoist says son lied to wife about being insured for car which hit pedestrian
Holly Willoughby labelled 'user who fakes friendships and ignores team'
