A judge at Swansea Crown Court has said drunken violence on the city's Wind Street is "all-too familiar"
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A JUDGE has said he would like to "close Wind Street down" after sentencing a man for an unprovoked attack in the centre of Swansea which left his victim with a broken jaw and unable to eat solid food.
Civil servant Thomas Raymond Smith was on a works outing with colleagues in December when he punched a stranger in the face, breaking his jaw in two places and leaving him needing major surgery to insert three metal plates.
Swansea Crown Court heard the victim, who works in a bank, could only drink soup and protein shakes for six weeks following the attack, and lost two-and-a-half stone.
The court heard Smith had been on a night out with colleagues on December 5 last year when violence flared. The court heard that 19-year-old Smith had been told by a police sergeant on duty on Wind Street to go home because of his drunken behaviour but ignored the advice - later he lashed out at the passer-by.
Smith, of Llangyfelach Street, Brynmelin, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
The court heard Smith was of previously clean character.
David Singh, for Smith, described the incident as "utterly cowardly and inexplicable" and said the defendant wanted to apologise to the victim and to the court.
Judge Peter Heywood said such acts of drunken violence and boorish behaviour on Wind Street were happening "week-in, week-out", adding: "If I had my way, I would close it down".
A judge at Swansea Crown Court has said drunken violence on the city's Wind Street is "all-too familiar"
Comments (10)
A JUDGE has said he would like to "close Wind Street down" after sentencing a man for an unprovoked attack in the centre of Swansea which left his victim with a broken jaw and unable to eat solid food.
Civil servant Thomas Raymond Smith was on a works outing with colleagues in December when he punched a stranger in the face, breaking his jaw in two places and leaving him needing major surgery to insert three metal plates.
Swansea Crown Court heard the victim, who works in a bank, could only drink soup and protein shakes for six weeks following the attack, and lost two-and-a-half stone.
The court heard Smith had been on a night out with colleagues on December 5 last year when violence flared. The court heard that 19-year-old Smith had been told by a police sergeant on duty on Wind Street to go home because of his drunken behaviour but ignored the advice - later he lashed out at the passer-by.
Smith, of Llangyfelach Street, Brynmelin, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
The court heard Smith was of previously clean character.
David Singh, for Smith, described the incident as "utterly cowardly and inexplicable" and said the defendant wanted to apologise to the victim and to the court.
Judge Peter Heywood said such acts of drunken violence and boorish behaviour on Wind Street were happening "week-in, week-out", adding: "If I had my way, I would close it down".
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He told the defendant: "You had gone out with friends on December 5 for a works do prior to Christmas. It seems you had too much to drink and were acting in an aggressive manner. You were spoken to by a local sergeant who told you to go home - you paid him no heed at all.
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"This was completely unprovoked - you were out of control because you had consumed to much alcohol. It is an all-too-familiar incident - previously decent people like you consume too much alcohol and behave in this boorish fashion."
The judge sentenced Smith to 12 months in a young offenders institution suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Smith must also pay his victim £2,000 in compensation, and £250 prosecution costs.
Responding to the judge's comments, South Wales Police' chief inspector Chris Truscott said tackling violent crime was a key priority for the force, and that a lot of work was being done around improving the night-time economy in Swansea.
He said: "The Help Point and additional training for door staff are just two examples of initiatives which help identify and support vulnerable people and keep people safe.
"There are a range of organisations involved in supporting the policing of Swansea's night-time economy, including door staff, local authority taxi marshals, Street Pastors and student volunteers who all play a vital role.
"All this work contributes to the city's Purple Flag accreditation which all the community safety partners are extremely proud of. It also reinforces our Know the Score campaign which encourages people to go out and have a great time, but to drink less and enjoy more."
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/close-Wind-Street-says-judge-following-drunken/story-29385973-detail/story.html#ixzz4BI6igUDy
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He told the defendant: "You had gone out with friends on December 5 for a works do prior to Christmas. It seems you had too much to drink and were acting in an aggressive manner. You were spoken to by a local sergeant who told you to go home - you paid him no heed at all.
READ MORE: Romantic trip to Tenby ends with Swansea man punching pub window and brawling with police
"This was completely unprovoked - you were out of control because you had consumed to much alcohol. It is an all-too-familiar incident - previously decent people like you consume too much alcohol and behave in this boorish fashion."
The judge sentenced Smith to 12 months in a young offenders institution suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Smith must also pay his victim £2,000 in compensation, and £250 prosecution costs.
Responding to the judge's comments, South Wales Police' chief inspector Chris Truscott said tackling violent crime was a key priority for the force, and that a lot of work was being done around improving the night-time economy in Swansea.
He said: "The Help Point and additional training for door staff are just two examples of initiatives which help identify and support vulnerable people and keep people safe.
"There are a range of organisations involved in supporting the policing of Swansea's night-time economy, including door staff, local authority taxi marshals, Street Pastors and student volunteers who all play a vital role.
"All this work contributes to the city's Purple Flag accreditation which all the community safety partners are extremely proud of. It also reinforces our Know the Score campaign which encourages people to go out and have a great time, but to drink less and enjoy more."
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