One-legged man ‘tortured’ in attack by men wanting drugs

AONE-LEGGED man was beaten senseless, threatened with a power drill and had a kettle of boiling water poured over him during a terrifying two-hour ordeal, a court has heard.

The victim suffered multiple fractures to his jaw, nose and eye sockets along with other injuries.

Swansea Crown Court heard that at around 6am on May 15 this year Joshua Richard Hughes went to the home of a drug dealer Paul Evans on Windsor Road, Neath. He was let into the property by Robert Tipping, who had been sleeping on the sofa.

John Hipkin, prosecuting, said 22-year-old Hughes picked up a weights bar and ordered Mr Evans out of bed and into the living room.

He pushed Mr Evans onto the sofa and began threatening him, then made a phone call to Christopher James, aged 30, and 46-year-old Richard Terrence Sandry. They arrived around 10 minutes later.

The court heard Hughes began repeatedly punching his victim in the face before James joined also unleashed punches – they demanded to know where his drugs were.

Mr Evans eventually handed over four grams of cocaine, and was also robbed of his bank card, mobile phone, jewellery and other items.

Hughes marched Mr Tipping to a cash machine where he withdrew £250 with the stolen card.

Back in the flat Hughes resumed his attack, picking up a power drill and threatening to use it on Mr Evans’ “good leg”.

Hughes then boiled a kettle of water and poured it over his victim.

Prosecutor Mr Hipkin said: “The circumstances of this can properly be described as torture.”

Before they left Sandry punched Mr Evans, and Hughes repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Tipping before taking £10 from his wallet.

Hughes, of Greenwood Road, Penrhiwtyn, Neath, had pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. James, of Crythan Road, Melin, Neath, had pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, and Sandry, aged 46, of Priory Close, Bryncoch, Neath, had pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Giles Hayes, for Hughes, said the father wanted to work towards becoming a “more law abiding member of the public”.

Andrew Evans, for James, said he had a strong work ethic and had always been in employment, but that at weekends he “partied hard” and got involved in anti-social behaviour and came into contact with people in the drugs world.

Stephen Rees, for Sandry, said his client’s involvement in the incident was “inexplicable”.

Hughes was made the subject of a 12-year extended sentence for public protection, comprising 10 years in custody and a two-year extended licence period. James was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison, and Sandry to 20 months in prison.