A man with a long history of violence attacked a stranger in the street, striking his victim to the head with a hammer with such force that he fractured his skull and left him with neurological damage. Ashley Jones leapt from the passenger seat of a car in Barry on September 11, 2020, and approached his victim and within seconds beat him about the head with the weapon causing terrible and lasting injuries to the man. A judge said there was no conceivable reason for Jones' actions other than the 38-year-old was "excited by violence".
Jones has a long history of violent offending starting when he was a juvenile and including stabbing, beating, kicking, and headbutting people as well as throwing boiling water into a victim's face. The defendant had previously been convicted at trial of inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon when he appeared in the dock of Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing. The defendant was unrepresented in court as he had been during much of his trial after dispensing with the services of two barristers along the way.
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Byron Broadstock, prosecuting, read out a statement from the victim of the assault in which he described the "massive and dramatic" impact the incident has had on his life. He said he has been left with balance and short-term memory problems and has developed a slur and stutter when he speaks for which he is seeing a speech therapist. He said he used to be a "bubbly, outgoing person" but now rarely leaves the house and when he does so he always makes sure he is home before it gets dark.
Ashley Merfyn Jones of Golwg yr Eglwys, Bedwas, Caerphilly, had previously been convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and possession of an offensive weapon when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has previous convictions for 45 offences of which 16 are for violence including numerous assaults occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and GBHs as well as possession of weapons. The assaults, which began when he was a juvenile, have seen him variously headbutting, beating, kicking and stabbing people – including stabbing a person in the face – as well as using weapons and throwing boiling water into a person's face. He has previously been found to be a dangerous offender and given an extended sentence.
Speaking from the dock the former Swansea gym trainer said he was ashamed of his past behaviour and he said he knew he had let his children and parents down. Judge Niclas Parry told Jones he had carried out a "particularly cowardly and brutal" attack on a total stranger for no conceivable reason other than "you must be excited by violence". The judge said a finding of dangerousness had previously been made in regard to Jones and he said he had no doubt that the defendant posed a significant risk of causing significant harm to people.
Jones was made the subject of a 12-year extended sentence comprising seven years in custody followed by a five-year extended licence period. The defendant can apply for release after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released.
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