Ewan Lindsay and Jonathan Rees appeared in dock at Swansea Crown Court
TWO pool players who launched an unprovoked attack on fellow drinkers in a social club — including repeatedly punching and kicking one of them as he lay on the floor — have avoided jail.
A judge condemned the pair for "putting the boot in" to one of their victims, saying it was "extremely cowardly".
Swansea Crown Court heard Ewan Lindsay and Jonathan Rees were part of a "rowdy group" of eight men — comprising members of a newly formed Thursday night pool club — in the workingmen's club on Brighton Road, Gorseinon, on the evening of February 18.
Craig Jones, prosecuting, said also in the club were two friends in their 40s who had gone there for a game of pool and a quiet pint.
One of the pool club group approached the friends and asked if they wanted to play for money — an offer they turned down.
Lindsay then punched one of the men in the face, knocking him over and causing him to hit his head on a radiator as he fell.
As the victim's friend went to his aid, Lindsay and Rees launched a joint attack on him, knocking him to the floor and subjecting him to "multiple punches and kicks".
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The court heard the victims suffered cuts and bruises to their faces, but did not have lasting physical injuries.
Lindsay, aged 28, of Llys Gwynfalen, Gorseinon, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and Rees, also aged 28, of Rowan Close, Gorseinon, to one count of actual bodily harm when they appeared in the dock together for sentencing.
The court heard Lindsay has previous convictions for battery, as well as for drink-driving, motoring offences and damaging property; Rees has no previous convictions.
Judge Peter Heywood described the kicks inflicted on one of the men by the defendants as "extremely cowardly", and said that the use of feet in assaults was becoming more prevalent.
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He said it was clear both Lindsay and Rees had drunk too much alcohol on the night in question, adding that intoxication was a common theme in Lindsay's past offending.
The judge sentenced Lindsay to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months with 160 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to complete a rehabilitation course and to pay each of his victims £150 compensation. Rees was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months with 120 hours unpaid work — he too must pay his victim £150 compensation.
The judge warned them that if they breach the suspended sentences they would be brought back before him, and he would have "no hesitation" in sending them to prison.
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/men-attacked-in-workingmen-s-club-after-playing-pool-for-money-rejected/story-29823346-detail/story.html#67yWLbsBpmrsHyeh.99
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