Teen’s violent assault leaves pensioner with life-changing injuries

People Also Read

How Paula Radcliffe’s daughter’s cancer shattered her world and changed her life forever

Taylor Swift’s Album Tops UK Charts Again After One Year

UK scientists to try dimming the Sun

Record Surge in Shoplifting Offences Hits England and Wales in 2024

A shocking assault unfolded near a burger van at Cwmbran’s Lockgate Retail Park when a teenager violently attacked a pensioner without any apparent reason, Cardiff Crown Court was told. Alec Edwards, 19 at the time, aggressively shouted “I’ll have you” at 70-year-old Gwynfor Williams before launching a grievous bodily harm assault. The attack left Mr. Williams with severe injuries requiring a full hip replacement and extensive wrist surgery, rendering him unable to walk unaided and forcing him to lose his job.

The incident began around midday when Mr. Williams was waiting in line for a burger van and noticed Edwards behaving abusively toward other customers. When another customer unknowingly jumped ahead of Edwards in the queue, the teenager erupted with profanity, shouting, “There’s a f***ing queue here mate, are you joking me?” Despite the other customer stepping back and trying to avoid conflict, Edwards dismounted his electric bike and continued his aggressive behavior, squinting and clenching his jaw.

Mr. Williams stepped in to calm the situation, telling Edwards, “Leave it, you’re next in the queue anyway,” but Edwards responded with hostility, saying, “Don’t f***ing start, I’m having a bad day anyway. What’s it to do with you?” He then pushed Mr. Williams twice, causing him to fall to the ground, and taunted him with, “You wanna start on me? You want a piece of me? Come on then. I’ll have you now.” An off-duty police officer witnessed the attack and quickly intervened to arrest Edwards, who refused to comment during his interview.

The victim suffered fractures to his left hip and wrist, necessitating a hip replacement and the insertion of a metal plate in his forearm, and spent nine days hospitalized. In his victim impact statement, Mr. Williams described how the injuries made it “inconceivable” to walk to local shops and disrupted his career as a freelance musician. He said, “I will struggle to return to this role. I am unable to walk unaided and need frequent rests,” and estimated his losses at £10,000, including home adjustments.

Reflecting on the attack, Mr. Williams said, “It was a terrifying ordeal. I have relived this over and over. For example, what if he had a knife?” He added, “This incident is seriously impairing my confidence. While once I would not have given a second thought to encountering strangers, I now do so with a sense of foreboding.” Edwards, now 20 and from Newport, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm without intent and has a previous record for dangerous driving and driving without a license.

Edwards’ barrister, Hilary Roberts, described the assault as “a spontaneous, short-lived assault with consequences which were far more than anyone could have expected.” She explained that Edwards felt remorse and “can’t explain why he snapped,” highlighting his mental health struggles linked to past experiences of violence and kidnapping. Roberts also noted that Edwards has a young daughter who stays with him on weekends and that he recently began a trial period working for a fencing business.

Recorder Andrew Hammond, the judge, emphasized that the victim “had done absolutely nothing” to deserve the attack and criticized Edwards for a troubled start to adulthood, including a prior dangerous driving conviction. He praised the off-duty officer’s timely intervention, saying, “One hesitates to think what might have happened had he not intervened,” and urged Edwards to consider the pain and loss Mr. Williams has endured. The judge acknowledged Edwards’ medium risk of reoffending and high risk of harm to the public but also took into account his young age, depression following his grandfather’s death, and prison overcrowding.

Edwards was sentenced to 14 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, fined £300, and ordered to attend 12 mental health treatment sessions alongside 12 days of rehabilitation activities. The court was informed that Mr. Williams did not apply for compensation.