‘Cowardly attack’ sees man jailed for two years
A THUG launched an unprovoked attack on a man in the street then rang police with a false story claiming he had been the victim of an attempted robbery, a court has heard.
Kyle Gregory left his victim with multiple facial fractures after flooring him with a punch. The 25-year-old has a history of committing violent offences and possessing weapons.
Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened on August 27 this year in Llanelli.
Dean Pulling, prosecuting, said the victim was walking home along New Dock Road after a visit to the chemist to collect medication when he saw Gregory and his father coming towards him.
The court heard the men knew of each other from living in the same town but were not friends.
Mr Pulling said the next thing the victim knew he was waking up on the pavement in a pool of blood having been struck a heavy blow by Gregory.
While members of the public rushed to the stricken man’s aid, his assailant walked off.
The court heard police quickly identified Gregory from CCTV in the area but before they could track him down he rang them to report he had been the victim of an knifepoint attempted robbery earlier that day and had punched his would-be attacker in self-defence.
Mr Pulling said the prosecution maintain that story had been a “ruse” used by Gregory to try to avoid taking responsibility for what had happened.
The court heard the defendant maintained that version of events during his interview at Llanelli police station, saying he had acted in selfdefence when threatened with a knife.
Meanwhile, Gregory’s victim was in Morriston Hospital undergoing CT scans which revealed multiple fractures to his cheekbones, nose, and eye sockets.
In an impact statement read to court, the injured man said he was still in constant pain as a result of the attack and had been left unable to sleep and anxious about going out.
Gregory, of Embankment Road, Llanelli, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. The court heard he has previous convictions for 33 offences of which five are for offences of violence including battery, affray, and assaulting a police officer. He also has convictions for breaching an asbo, criminal damage, possession of a knife and an air weapon, and harassment.
David Singh, for Gregory, said the main if not only point of mitigation he could put forward was the defendant’s guilty plea.
Judge Paul Thomas QC told Gregory he had carried out a “cowardly, blindside attack” for no reason and had then concocted a “despicable lie” about an attempted robbery in order to try to shift the blame to his victim.
Giving the defendant a 25% discount for his guilty plea, the judge sentenced him to two years in prison. Gregory will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.
The defendant was also made the subject of fiveyear restraining order banning him from contacting his victim.