Gang jailed for 30 years over ‘punishment beating’
A GROUP of armed thugs administered a brutal “punishment beating” after smashing their way into their victim’s home in the dead of night.
Mohammed Ahmed, Timothy Bodell and Miles Bishop popped to a nearby pub for a couple of drinks before donning hoods and face coverings and kicking their way into the property.
The victim was beaten with fists and a hammer and stabbed with a knife in the assault, which left him “bleeding profusely”. The trio then walked away from the house, got into a waiting car and drove off.
Sending the defendants to prison for a combined total of 30 years, a judge at Swansea Crown Court noted none of them had “come clean” about the exact reason for the attack, though it is believed to be related to the drugs trade.
Tom Scapens, prosecuting, said on New Year’s Eve last year Ahmed, aged 20, Bodell, aged 31, and 29-year-old Bishop were driven to Carmarthen from the Llanelli area.
The trio identified the house of their target in Lammas Street in the town centre, then popped to a nearby pub where Bodell and Bishop drank alcohol.
Shortly before 1am the trio returned to the house, covered their faces with hoods and a balaclava, and smashed their way through the front door.
The prosecutor said the gang subjected their victim to a “brutal and unrelenting assault” with weapons and fists which left him “bleeding profusely”.
The attackers then left the house, got back into their car and were driven away.
Ahmed, who is originally from London but had been living in the Swansea area at the time and is of no fixed abode, admitted aggravated burglary, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a bladed article.
Bodell, of Danlan Road, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Bishop, of Parc Pendre, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, had denied aggravated burglary and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent but had been convicted at trial.
The court heard Ahmed has seven convictions for 15 offences including possession of crack cocaine, possession of cannabis, shoplifting, and a number for robbery, both in London and in the West Midlands.
He also has a conviction for battery from April this year when he, Bishop and an unidentified male carried out a “gang attack” on a man in St Helen’s Road in Swansea.
Bodell has 11 previous convictions for 16 offences including non-dwelling burglary, vehicle-taking, assaulting a police officer, and possession of a sawnoff shotgun.
Bishop has 25 previous convictions of 38 offences including burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Judge Geraint Walters said the three men had travelled to Carmarthen that night to carry out a “punishment beating”.
Giving Ahmed and Bodell credit for their guilty pleas, he sentenced them both to nine years in jail. Bishop, who contested the matter and therefore received no credit, was sentenced to 12 years.
The defendants will serve up to half of their sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.