A pregnant woman and an expectant father have been jailed for their part in a pub brawl inCardiff which broke out when a woman was “groped”.
Julie Heron, whose baby is due in July, and Michael Hewings, whose partner is expecting their second child, were sent to prison following the brawl at Rumney ’s Old Cross Inn.
Cardiff Crown Court heard the fight broke out on February 22 last year after Samuel Jones’ girlfriend was “groped” at the bar, leading to conflict between two groups of drinkers.
Prosecutor Nigel Fryer said: “The situation escalated to violence.”
'Extremely violent'
The court heard Heron acted in “an extremely violent manner” when she punched the pub landlady repeatedly in the face – later claiming the woman had pulled her hair.
She also kicked and stamped on the head of 21-year-old Adam Lynch, from Pontprennau , who was acquitted of violent disorder after a trial. Elisha Ford, 31, from Llanrumney , was also acquitted.
The confrontation was caught on pub car park CCTV, which showed Jones being stabbed in the chest. According to evidence given by a surgeon, his injuries – including a 2cm-deep knife wound to his lung and 4cm wound to his skull from a baseball bat – could have been “catastrophic”.
Carl Ford told police he was trying to calm the situation down and used the knife and baseball bat in self-defence – an explanation dismissed by prosecutors as “rather fanciful”.
'Obnoxious and aggressive'
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, circuit judge Joseph Gaskell warned onlookers in the packed public gallery they should “remain silent or leave”.
As he read out the verdicts, the judge warned: “Members of the public will sit silently through the sentences. They may hear things said with which they are unhappy, they may not agree with the sentences, but they will remain silent, or they will leave.”
Ford, 28, from Llanrumney, admitted violent disorder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. The judge described his behaviour as “obnoxious and aggressive”.
He added: “The evidence before the court is that it is pure chance you did not inflict an injury causing a devastating impact. You could have cut an artery and the consequences would have been catastrophic.”
The court heard he had 21 previous convictions, including affray at a pub.
His barrister said he has overcome addictions to crack cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis and has also undertaken anger management training. Ford was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Shouting from public gallery
Heron admitted violent disorder and common assault. The 26-year-old from Llanrumney has an eight-year-old daughter and was previously sent to prison for violent disorder when her child was two.
The judge said: “Clearly if you go into custody your daughter will miss you, just like she did last time. Serving a sentence when you are pregnant will be that much more difficult.”
Her representative stressed she had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and shown remorse. She was sentenced to eight months and will serve half in prison.
As the sentence was read out, a man in the public gallery shouted at the judge: “Your heart’s a brick.”
Hewings, 26, from Llanrumney, was found guilty of violent disorder by a jury who rejected his explanation of self-defence. The court heard he had 17 convictions for offences including burglary and robbery and was serving a sentence for burglary at the time of the brawl.
His barrister told the court he had a one-year-old child and another on the way, adding: “He is very sorry he ever got involved in what happened outside.” He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
'One final opportunity to turn his life around'
Kyle Clark, 26, from Llanrumney, admitted violent disorder. He had 13 convictions including assault, wounding and affray.
His barrister told the court his newborn baby was in hospital, adding: “He asks for one final opportunity to turn his life around.”
He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He must also obey a curfew, complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 50 days of rehabilitation, as well as paying £1,000 in costs.
Liam Wall admitted violent disorder. The 26-year-old from Llanrumney, who has a seven-year-old child, had 18 previous convictions including assault, robbery and burglary. He was sentenced to six months in prison.
Samuel Jones, 24, from Old St Mellons , was sentenced for violent disorder immediately after his trial to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, plus a community order. He was ordered to pay £1,700 in costs.
Idrees Kaid, 32, from Llanrumney was initially charged with violent disorder and having a weapon, but was acquitted when no evidence could prove he was at the scene.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/pregnant-woman-expectant-father-among-10742077
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