Pair carried out attack at city mosque
TWO brothers are due to be sentenced for their roles in an attack involving a knife outside a mosque in Cardiff during Ramadan.
Luke Thomas and Liam Thomas both admitted their parts in the incident, which happened by Dar Ul-Isra Mosque in the early hours.
The attack took place at the mosque and Muslim welfare and education centre in Wyverne Road, Cathays, just after 1.20am on Sunday, June 2.
Liam Thomas, 18, from North Road in Gabalfa, was due to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.
His case was listed before Judge Nicola Jones and the trial was expected to last for three days.
Liam Thomas had previously denied common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The Crown added a further count of affray and he pleaded guilty.
Owen Williams, prosecuting, said that plea was acceptable and the prosecution would not seek a trial on the remaining counts.
Liam Thomas, who was represented by Susan Ferrier, spoke only to enter his plea and was granted bail until the sentencing hearing.
Mr Williams said the witnesses had come to court, ready to give evidence, and a police officer would take up-todate victim personal statements.
The court heard one of the victims indicated he may want to read his statement when the brothers are sentenced and the judge said he should be given appropriate support.
Luke Thomas, 20, from Harlech Road in Rumney, pleaded guilty on July 2 to possessing an offensive weapon and wounding.
He pleaded guilty on September 30 to wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and the judge ordered a pre-sentence report.
She also ordered a full pre-sentence report for Liam Thomas and told him he must co-operate with the Probation Service.
The judge noted the brothers were not charged with a racially aggravated offence, but said she could not ignore the fact the offending happened outside a mosque at Ramadan.
She told Liam Thomas: “It does not mean you are not going to prison. It means I am going to look very carefully at all the circumstances.”
Judge Jones said she would have to consider the location and timing of the offending, as well as the impact on the local Muslim community.
She told the defendant the custody threshold had been crossed and all sentencing options would remain open.
Liam Thomas has been wearing an electronic tag since June and his curfew will remain in place as a bail condition until he is sentenced on November 4.