Attacker smashed man’s knee with head

A MAN has been given a second chance after an alcohol-fuelled attack which turned his victim’s life “upside down”.

David Gwyn Thomas ran at Christopher Owen on Bangor High Street, fracturing his kneecap with his head after Mr Owen raised it in self defence.

The 36-year-old, of Ffordd Elfed, Bangor, also struck him with a bottle, which didn’t smash, but it was accepted by Caernarfon Crown Court that it had been used as a weapon.

The incident on August 9 last year was captured on CCTV.

Thomas pleaded guilty to inflicting GBH and attempted wounding with intent after admitting he had been drinking.

The court heard he should not have been mixing alcohol with the medication he was on after a catastrophic brain injury during a “brutal attack” as a child.

Jade Tufail, prosecuting, said Mr Owen was left with multiple fractures and cartilage damage.

His kneecap had to be secured with wires and screws.

In victim impact statements, Mr Owen said he was left in “horrific pain” and is now reliant on a walking stick.

He “remains anxious and depressed about the impact on his life as an active person who loved sport”, and “feels panicked” walking to and from Bangor town centre, the prosecution said.

Judge Nicola Jones said Thomas, who is raising his daughter with the help of his parents, “needs way more help than he’s getting” from community mental health teams, and ordered a multi-agency tailored approach.

She said: “He shouldn’t be drinking with his meds because when that happens, terrible things happen he can’t explain.”

But she said aggravating features were that there were other people present and that Thomas, who has six previous convictions, ignored warnings from other people to stop.

A 16 month sentence suspended for two years was imposed with an 80-day rehabilitation requirement.

A five-year restraining order was enforced banning him from contacting Mr Owen and a 120-day alcohol absence monitoring requirement by way of a tag.