David Kelso-Mitchell tried to murder his friend with a claw hammer
A MAN who attempted to murder his friend — repeatedly smashing him in the face with a claw hammer before punching him and throttling him — has been jailed.
A court heard the reason why David Kelso-Mitchell launched the ferocious attack is likely to remain a mystery — the defendant himself is unable to offer an explanation.
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The victim only managed to escape with his life after he stuck his thumbs in the attacker's eyes and fought him off.
John Hipkin, for the prosecution, told Swansea Crown Court that 56-year-old Kelso-Mitchell and the victim had worked together for five years before losing contact when the victim went to university.
They got in touch again in the summer of 2015 through social media and, in September they met-up in a pub in Neath.
They later when back to Kelso-Mitchel's house in Melyn where they drank whisky together and talked.
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Mr Hipkin said that during the evening "there was not a cross word between them" — then out of the blue Kelso-Mitchell attacked his friend, kicking him in the face and disorientating him before repeatedly hitting him with the hammer.
His victim slumped to the floor from the chair he was sitting on and Kelso-Mitchell then sat astride him, punching him in the face before grabbing his throat and squeezing.The court heard that when the victim tried to call for help, Kelso-Mitchell "giggled" at him before telling him "Stay still — it will be quicker for both of us".
The victim finally managed to free himself and lay on the floor for a couple of hours — it is though Kelso-Mitchell had fallen asleep — before feeling it was safe enough to flee the house and ask a passer-by for help.
Mr Hipkin said that a detective and a paramedic who saw the victim in the aftermath of the attack said he had suffered the worst injuries either had seen in the course of their duties.
The court heard that among the injuries suffered by the victim was a fracture to the cricoid cartilage — the ring of cartilage that surrounds the windpipe — something which experienced Morriston A&E consultant Mike McCabe had never seen before.
Kelso-Mitchell, of Briton Ferry Road, Melyn, Neath, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder when he appeared in the dock today for sentencing.
The court heard the former carer for vulnerable adults was unable to explain why he had launched the attack on someone he regarded as a friend.
The incident has left the victim — who works as an IT consultant — with facial scars and a degree of palsy on the right side of the face, damage to a hand, and vertigo. He has not yet felt able to return to work.
Judge Paul Thomas QC said Kelso-Mitchell's victim must had been petrified during the attack, which he described as "unprovoked, ferocious and sustained".
The judge said he had seen photographs of the injuries the defendant had inflicted, and "they can only be described as stomach-churning".
He said he was satisfied the defendant had not provided a motive for the attack not because he was trying to hide something but because he genuinely didn't known.
The judge added: "Why it happened will, I suspect, remain a mystery".
His Honour sentenced Kelso-Mitcehll to 10 years in prison.
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