Three jailed for ‘insane’ violence after drink
A FATHER and his two sons began a brawl in a pub where glasses and chairs were thrown after the landlord refused to serve them more alcohol.
Reuben Edwards, 49, and sons Leonard Edwards, 22, and Nino Edwards, 21, assaulted the landlord and customers at the Iron Duke pub in Pontypool on New Year’s Day after drinking copious amounts of pink gin and Monster energy drinks.
The family became enraged after landlord Frederic Farley said they had drunk too much and they would no longer be served. The attack left staff and customers injured and damage was caused to the pub including a £500 television which had a glass thrown at it by Nino Edwards.
Prosecutor Andrew Davies told a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday the three defendants entered the premises in Osborne Road at around 5pm on January 1 where they began to drink steadily.
At 9.50pm Mr Farley told Leonard Edwards he would not be serving Reuben Edwards any more alcohol due to his demeanour but at 10pm when the landlord was clearing glasses from the bar he was approached by Leonard Edwards who he claimed he had been short-changed and was “agitated”.
Mr Farley said he would refund the drinks but said the group had drunk too much alcohol.
Mr Davies played CCTV footage to the court and described proceedings. He added: “The party gathered around the landlord and he was pushed and struck to the nose, causing it to bleed. He was also struck several other times.
“At this stage the landlord said: ‘You’ve done enough, I want you out’. But as you can see from the footage the defendants picked up glasses and threw them across the bar close to the head of the landlord.
“A member of bar staff, Joel Williams, was attacked and injured and a customer, Richard Price, was also punched and kicked.”
The footage also showed the defendants stamping on and kicking people, throwing glasses and chairs, and Nino Edwards holding people back as his father and brother attacked.
Reuben Edwards and Nino Edwards, both of Shepherd’s Hill Caravan Site, Pontypool, and Leonard Edwards, of Albion Road, Pontypool, were arrested and all three pleaded guilty to affray.
Defence barrister Abigail Jackson said her client Reuben Edwards was remorseful having been “appalled” by his actions after watching the CCTV.
Ms Jackson added: “This incident was clearly fuelled by intoxication and vast amounts of alcohol and since then Mr Edwards has not drunk at all.”
Lucy Crowther, representing Leonard Edwards, said her client had also given up alcohol and was due to become a father next year, having already provided care for his partner’s other children.
Andrew Kendall, representing Nino Edwards, said the defendant’s partner was also expecting his first child.
Sentencing, Recorder Patrick Upward QC said: “All of you used an insane amount of violence against members of staff and members of the public.”
All three men were jailed for 12 months.