‘Life-long criminal’ hit women with hammer
A WOMAN was hit in the head with a sledgehammer while trying to protect her 91-year-old grandparents and her sister from burglars who broke into their home in the middle of the night.
John Flynn, 45, and his unknown associate gained entry to a house above the Ael y Bryn stores in Cardiff at 2.21am on August 20 last year by smashing through a kitchen door.
They then proceeded to break into the bedrooms of Puja Kar and Sunetra Kar who were visiting their father and grandparents in Llanedeyrn.
Having demanded cash, money and gold, Flynn went to hit the 91-yeargrandfather, but after Sunetra Kar put herself in the way he hit her with a sledgehammer to the elbow.
Puja Kar attempted to protect her sister but was hit to the back of the head with the sledgehammer by Flynn, causing a gaping wound.
Flynn and his associate were told the police had been called and left the property in a stolen Range Rover which they drove at speeds up to 110mph in an attempt to flee the police.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard Puja Kar was woken up by the sound of glass smashing and heard two people running up the stairs. Then she heard her sister screaming.
The defendant and his associate were heard shouting: “Where’s the cash? Where’s the money? Where’s the gold?” throughout the ordeal.
Puja Kar stood behind her bedroom door in an attempt to prevent the burglars from getting in but Flynn pushed his way in. She asked to dress before leaving the room and joining her family on the landing.
Flynn was described as wearing a red hoodie with the hood up and was holding a sledgehammer with a metal head which was six inches wide, while his associate was wearing dark clothing and a scarf around his face.
Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said: “[Flynn] made as if to hit the 91-yearold grandfather and Puja Kar said: ‘Kill me instead.’
“Sunetra Kar got in between Puja and the two attackers and [Flynn] swung the hammer at her. She was struck to the left elbow after putting her hands up to protect her face.
“Puja Kar then stood in front of Sunetra to protect her from violence which caused her back to be momentarily turned so [Flynn] hit her in the back of the head.”
The sisters lied by saying they had called the police and Flynn and his associate left through the kitchen door. Neighbours who had heard screaming had called the police.
Puja Kar suffered a 2cm laceration to the back of her head, which required four staples, and Sunetra Kar had a puncture wound on her elbow as well as scratches to her arm.
Later that morning police saw Flynn in the Range Rover in Llanishen and pursued him, with the defendant driving at speed up to 110mph.
He drove to Coed y Gores in Llanedeyrn and abandoned the car, leaving his red hoodie and gloves.
Following a media appeal the police received an anonymous phone call to say Flynn had been involved and the defendant was arrested on August 21.
He denied the burglary and was released under investigation but forensic examination of the hoodie and gloves left in the Range Rover found Flynn’s DNA as well as glass fragments from the smashed kitchen door.
Flynn, of Coed y Gores, later pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, unlawful wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has 50 previous convictions which included offences such as violent disorder, common assault, burglaries, and attempted robbery.
The court heard the defendant’s associate is still at large.
Puja and Sunetra Kar attended the court hearing and read out their victim personal statements.
In her statement Puja Kar said: “That night became one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.
“My bedroom was broken into and I had no form of protection and had to comply with their demands. I stood no chance against these two men with weapons.
“My sister and I protected each other and our elderly grandparents but our vulnerabilities were not a deterrent to these two individuals and we were pleading for our lives.”
As well as the injury to her head Puja Kar said the burglary had affected her psychological wellbeing and the trauma she experienced would affect her for the rest of her life.
Sunetra Kar said: “Seeing two men shouting and brandishing a sledgehammer in your face is something I never thought would happen to us.
“My grandparents, who are both in their 90s, are petrified and feel unsafe and anxious in their own home. They should not have had to experience this ordeal.
“These individuals are an extreme danger to the public and had no qualms about threatening vulnerable people and assaulting two females protecting their grandparents in their own home.”
Since the burglary the family has installed CCTV cameras and a metal gate to prevent similar incidents.
In mitigation, defence barrister John Ryan said his client had been gripped by an addiction to Class A drugs and had broken free from his addiction until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which caused him to relapse.
Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan described Puja and Sunetra Kar as “extremely brave women”.
Addressing Flynn, he said: “You know who your associate is. If you really wished to be of assistance to the prosecution of this serious crime you would have told the police who he was. You are a life-long professional criminal.”
Flynn was made subject to an extended prison sentence having been found to be a dangerous offender and was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, of which he will serve two-thirds before being considered for parole.