A violent man who headbutted a young woman outside a Rhyl bar has been jailed for two years.
John Mark Roberts, 52, of Plas Haf, Penyffordd near Holywell, was a powerfully built man who had grossly over-reacted, a judge said.
A witness described “a horrible cracking sound” as his head impacted with the face of victim Sophie Bancroft, 20, outside Bar Bow on May 30.
He also received a concurrent 14-day prison sentence for a bail offence after he admitted leaving Mold Crown Court on Friday, July 15, before he could be sentenced.
But he gave himself up on Monday afternoon and was produced from custody today for sentence.
Judge Niclas Parry said outside licensed premises in a busy populated area where police were already struggling to monitor a violent situation he head-butted a young woman to the face.
'A gross over-reaction'
There were clearly other incidents going on, he was not involved in those but the judge said that whatever the provocation he may have felt, it had been “ a gross over-reaction.”
“You left her going in and out of consciousness and she now feels vulnerable going out in public,” the judge said.
The offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which he admitted, was aggravated by the location, the consumption of alcohol, the presence of others and the defendant’s “shocking record for violence.”
Judge Parry said Roberts had previous convictions for 45 offences including five offences of ABH, a previous offence of wounding with intent, he had served a long sentence for wounding and in 2014 had assaulted a teenage female. He also had a robbery conviction.
The judge said he took into account his guilty plea, his basis of plea, and accepted his explanation for leaving court on Friday that he had family matters of deal with.
Prosecuting barrister Anna Pope told how Miss Bancroft was at the bar, the defendant was in another group, and following another incident of public disorder which did not involve them, there were arguments going on outside.
Miss Bancroft was heard to make a comment and the defendant headbutted her.
Injuries
Miss Pope said it was an unprovoked assault and Miss Bancroft recalled nothing until she woke up in pain in hospital.
She had bruising to the bridge of the nose, marks to her face, bruising to the elbow and knee and needed surgery to realign her nose because she had difficulty breathing.
When told what had happened it made her feel sick and nervous, she suffered nightmares, and woke up feeling sick and shaky.
She was nervous about going out and flinched if a man was close to her during a night out.
“She says she will never go out in Rhyl again and has been left frightened of people,” explained Miss Pope.
Remorseful
Defending barrister Sarah Yates said Roberts had made admissions and was remorseful for what had happened.
He had issues with alcohol and depression and had referred himself for assessment and counselling.
Speaking after the case Sophie, who is awaiting an operation on her nose, told the Daily Post she would have liked him to have received a longer sentence but she’s “just glad he’s off the streets”.
She said: “I have been walking around with him on the streets and I didn’t even know what he looked like, so he could’ve done it again.
“I think that he needs help though with his past.
“Next time someone could die. He needs more than just prison, he needs actual help.”
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