A MAN has been committed to crown court for sentencing after setting another man’s hair alight.
Daniel Lloyd, 26, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Friday charged with assault and actual bodily harm (ABH) after setting Ulises Dominguez-Garcia’s Afro-style hair on fire during a night out .
The court heard how Lloyd, of Fford Elfed, Wrexham, had been on a night out at the ‘New York, New York’ bar in Town Hill, Wrexham, accompanied by his girlfriend.
Tracey Willingham, prosecuting, said CCTV recorded shortly before 3am on November 28 showed Lloyd igniting the victim’s hair with a lighter, which she said constituted a weapon.
Ms Willingham told the court that the victim was alerted his hair was on fire by staff at the bar, who helped him to put it out and that Lloyd had been seen on the footage holding the flame up to the victim’s hair beforehand.
She said there had been an incident earlier in the night where Lloyd’s girlfriend had come up to him and alleged Mr Dominguez-Garcia had been touching her inappropriately, prompting the response from Lloyd.
Reading a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Dominguez-Garcia, Ms Willingham said the victim had alleged the attack was racially motivated, but magistrates were not satisfied that this was the case.
Reading the statement Ms Willingham said: “The victim says that this incident has had such an effect on him that he does not want to go back to the bar.
“He is aware that the staff on the door and behind the bar were talking about the incident.
“He also says he has had to change his hairstyle because of the attack and he is very nervous when he goes out and stands in the corner so he can see people and doesn’t have his back to them.”
In his statement the victim also said he is now struggling with living in Wrexham and just wants to leave because of it.
Andy Holliday, defending, said: “The issue as far as my client is concerned was between this person and the defendant’s partner, who she says was touching her inappropriately.
“He knows his actions were completely disproportionate.
“He’s seen the CCTV in his police interview and was completely remorseful and appreciates how serious this could have been.”
Mr Holliday added that in terms of physical injury, the incident could have been much worse.
Magistrates’ chair John Perera said he and his colleagues were satisfied there was no racial motivation behind the attack, but said the case fell into high culpability and greater harm.
He released Lloyd on bail to appear at Mold Crown Court on February 25 and said he is not to enter any licensed premises in Wrexham town centre.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/158016/man-admits-setting-fire-to-victim-s-afro-hair-in-wrexham.aspx
