Killer forced his way into woman’s home before attacking her
A FORMER soldier who was jailed a decade ago for killing a dad-of-three in an unprovoked attack forced his way into a woman’s home and assaulted her.
Leon Wells, who served in the Balkans and Sierra Leone, was sent to prison for three years in 2009 for manslaughter after punching his victim outside a pub in Tredegar.
At that hearing, prosecutor Roger Thomas QC said: “You can’t reason with Leon. He is punch-happy. He uses his fists first and asks for discussions after.”
He was back at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for four new offences, including assault and criminal damage.
Prosecutors said the latest incident happened at Cuthbert Street in Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, on Wednesday, February 19 – the same day he was released on bail.
The court heard he assaulted Lauren Waymouth, damaged her front door and threatened to set fire to her house and car.
Judge Richard Twomlow said: “This was a frightening incident where you forced your way into Ms Waymouth’s home and assaulted her after causing substantial damage.
“Threats to damage are regarded very seriously by the courts, especially in the context of having already caused damage, making the threats more likely to be carried out.”
Wells also admitted failing to comply with a Serious Crime Prevention Order between June 6 last year and
January 20. The order banned him from having more than one bank account.
The judge said: “This was a clear and detailed order relating to bank accounts and there is no reason why you could not understand it. You basically ignored it.”
Prosecutors said he had 10 previous convictions on his record, dating back to 2004.
Wells was jailed for three years in March, 2009 for manslaughter after he admitted killing Bargoed dad-of-three Alan Brown, 45, a former miner, in an unprovoked attack.
That incident happened outside the Tredegar Arms on Bank Holiday Sunday, May 4, 2008.
At that sentencing hearing, Mr Thomas said: “Wells was outside, taunting those inside the pub to come out for trouble.
“Mr Brown came out. He was doing nothing wrong. He was grabbed and hit by Wells and was punched straight to the ground.
“He never got to his feet or regained consciousness. All efforts were made to save him but all to no avail.”
Mr Thomas, prosecuting, said Wells had fought as a boxer and
“enjoy[ed] violence”.
John Charles Rees QC, defending, told the court Wells had served in the armed forces in the Balkans and in Sierra Leone, adding: “[He] hadn’t meant to seriously hurt Mr Brown.
“He was up for a fight, I can’t suggest otherwise. But he didn’t intend to cause Alan Brown any serious injury.”
Then-Recorder of Cardiff, Nicholas Cooke QC, said: “This is a case where drunken violence was used in a public place and that’s what caused Mr Brown’s death.”
Wells was jailed again in May, 2014, for five years for his part in a cocaine supply ring.
He was released on licence in December, 2015, then the regional organised crime unit began investigating Wells and his co-defendant as part of Operation Avocet.
Police found they had become involved with criminals in London in a bid to bring “significant” amounts of cannabis down the M4.
Wells was jailed for two months in May, 2017, for conspiring to supply a Class B drug.
The 37-year-old, from McLaren Cottages in Abertysswg, most recently pleaded guilty to assault by beating, making threats and criminal damage.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Judge Twomlow said: “I am afraid I agree with the ultimate conclusion of the [pre-sentence report] writer and I am of the view that it is necessary to impose an immediate prison sentence. In my opinion, this offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified for it. I am therefore going to pass a sentence of imprisonment. This will be the shortest which in my opinion matches the seriousness of your offences and takes into account the mitigating factors in your case.”
Wells was jailed for 12 months and must serve up to half of that in prison before he can be released on licence.