A man launched a surprise attack on two people using a cycle path, punching and stamping on his victims causing a catalogue of ugly injuries. One of Jamie Thomas' victims suffered a broken arm and lost a number of teeth in the assault while the other was left with a fractured cheekbone.
Thomas, 31, has a history of violent offending including taking part in a group attack on a man in the street and assaulting a partner by butting her and shoving his fist into her mouth. Swansea Crown Court heard that on September 17 last year friends Shane Cooper and Richard Evans were walking on the cycle path which runs parallel to the M4 at the top end of Skewen when, without warning, Thomas attacked them from behind. Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, said Mr Cooper, who was walking slightly behind his companion, felt a number of powerful blows to his head which caused him to stumble to the ground. The defendant then began to kick his victim as he lay on the floor and continued to punch him.
The court heard Mr Evans turned around to see his friend curled up on the cycle path in the foetal position and saw Thomas stamping on the defenceless man. Thomas then turned his attention to Mr Evans – punching him in the face and warning him he would kill him if he contacted the police. The two victims managed to flee and called an ambulance but due to the long wait ended up being driven to hospital by a family member.
