Street attack suspects change pleas to guilty
FIVE men have admitted their roles in a street attack which left a student in a coma for a month.
Criminology student Ifan Owens was left fighting for his life following an incident in Aberystwyth in the early hours of January 14.
Mr Owens, from Cardiff, was discovered unconscious in High Street and rushed to hospital. He woke from the coma weeks later at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, on February 11.
Yesterday, five men who were due to stand trial in connection with the incident changed their pleas at Swansea Crown Court.
At the hearing, Billy Michael Valentine, 19, of Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent.
Andrew Raymond John Scott, 24, of Dolwyre, Llangwyryfon; Lee AndersenWarnes, 20, of Min y Dref, Newcastle Emlyn; Michael Jones, 24, of Llanfair Clydogau; and David Robert Lloyd, 26, of no fixed abode, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Valentine had previously pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, but the plea was not accepted by prosecutors and the matter was set down for trial.
The remaining defendants also previously pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
The five men are due to appear at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on August 8.