Glass attack during party at block of flats’ shared garden
A BIRTHDAY party in a communal garden at a block of flats descended into violence, a court has heard.
Tracey Elizabeth Williams ended up hitting a neighbour in the head with a glass after a row erupted.
Helen Randall, prosecuting at Swansea Crown Court, said the assault took place at flats in St Teilo Street, Pontarddulais, in April last year during the first lockdown.
She said Daniel Lewis and his girlfriend were celebrating a birthday in the garden of the property and were joined by others including upstairs neighbour Williams. During the afternoon an argument broke out between Mr Lewis and Williams’ sonin-law, prompting the 50-year-old defendant to lash out with the glass she was holding and hit the victim in the head.
Williams then called 999 to report the incident and Mr Lewis was subsequently taken to hospital where a wound to his head was stapled.
The defendant was arrested and interviewed and told officers she acted in self-defence after the complainant picked up a gate.
The court heard she became upset during the interview and said she had never meant to hurt Mr Lewis. Williams, of Beech Crescent, Gorseinon, Swansea, admitted unlawful wounding on the basis that all parties had been drinking, an altercation involving her son-in-law had started, and in a “spur of the moment” action she lashed out.
The court heard she has three previous convictions for three offences including robbery and conveying a prohibited item into prison.
Andrew Evans, for Williams, said the assault had been a culmination of issues between his client and Mr Lewis and it had been “an incident waiting to happen”. He added the defendant “bitterly regrets” her actions.
Judge Geraint Walters noted none of the defendant’s previous convictions had resulted in an immediate prison sentence – unusually in the case of a robbery – and he told the
defendant she needed to understand the courts’ patience was running out.
He said Williams had not offended at all until her mid-40s and that her life had obviously “completely gone off the rails” in recent times.
The judge said mercifully the injury caused had not been more serious and told the defendant she should treat this as her “last chance”.
Giving the defendant a 10% discount for her guilty plea the judge sentenced her to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.