Robbers armed with a claw hammer and spanner burst into a flat and launched a savage attack on two men who were watching TV inside.
One of the victims thought he was going to die and his cries and screams could be heard during a frantic 999 call to police.
Stuart McLeese, prosecuting at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court , said Stephen Fury, 48, and Gareth Griffiths, 19, were watching television on the night of Thursday, May 19, when two men forced their way in.
Christopher Jones, 33, and Thomas Jarman, 22, burst in through the door armed with a spanner and claw hammer.
Hit across the face
Disguised in hats and scarves so only their eyes were visible, and described by a witness as “manic”, they demanded money from the pair who had tried to barricade themselves into the bedroom of the flat in Temple Drive, Llandrindod Wells .
Both men were repeatedly attacked by Jones and Jarman and the court heard Mr Fury felt physically sick after being struck time and time again across the head.
“Both men hit Mr Fury when he said he had no money,” said Mr McLeese.
“Mr Griffiths was pleading with them to stop but he kept being hit across the face.”
'I'll kill you'
They eventually handed over two £5 notes and the pair escaped with mobile phones, a laptop computer, headphones and keys.
“As they [the defendants] left they told them to say they had done it to each other,” said Mr McLeese.
As Jarman left he was spotted by the resident of another flat and told her: “You haven’t seen me right, or I’ll kill you.”
Both victims suffered extensive facial injuries with Mr Fury having a fractured skull and Mr Griffiths a fractured eye socket.
The court was told how the defendants, both of Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, tried to get another man to “clear up” their mess but items, including a £5 note saturated in blood from Jones’s back pocket, were recovered.
Flashbacks and nightmares
Both defendants tried to deny they had anything to do with the attack but both admitted robbery when they appeared at court.
In a witness impact statement read to the court, Mr Griffiths said he used to be happy but now lived in fear, especially since the attack was unprovoked, and had not been able to take up the job he had hoped to do.
“I’ve never felt like this before. I’ve suffered flashbacks and have nightmares of being hit across the head,” he said.
Mr Fury, who has since moved away from Llandrindod Wells, said: “I thought I was going to die. I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. I’m worried about my safety. I have a fear of people and noise. I’m unsettled and have memory loss.”
'Thought I would die'
Ieuan Morris, defending Jones, who has 17 court appearances for 37 offences, said he had become caught up in drugs, which had blighted his life.
Nick Gedge, defending Jarman, who has 19 court appearances for 32 convictions, all since 2013, said his life had spiralled in the wake of family problems.
“He is described as being easily led,” he said.
Judge Richard Twomlow jailed Jarman and Jones each for nine years and four months and told them had they not pleaded guilty they would have received 14 years.
He added: “This was a calculated and vicious crime and the physical and mental effects have been very significant.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/robbers-wielding-claw-hammer-spanner-11766559
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