Trader’s teeth knocked out in ‘petty’ dispute
liz.day@walesonline.co.uk
A SHOPKEEPER had his front teeth knocked out when a neighbour’s son punched him in the face following a “petty” dispute about an advertising board.
David Crews, who runs the Al Ponte deli in Cardiff with wife Karen, is still in pain from his injuries and has been told the dental treatment will take a year.
“I’ve been in shock since it happened,” said David, 63, who had to have three stitches to his mouth.
“I’ve been extremely shaky. I never expected to be assaulted outside my shop. I can’t believe it happened so quickly.”
The unprovoked assault happened on Friday, May 17, outside the couple’s deli on Pontcanna Street, which they have been running together since November 2016.
David was sweeping and arranging a display outside, while Karen was at the back of the shop, preparing for a wine tasting event.
Martin Warnett was clearing his mother’s home next door, preparing for her to move, and saw David move an A-shaped board advertising items like cheeses, wines and charcuterie.
He moved the board back and told David: “This is private property.”
Speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Pamela Kaiga said David went over to talk to him, then: “Without warning, the defendant punched him to the face.”
Karen, 55, said she was working in the back of the shop when the incident happened, adding: “There he was, standing on the step – all bloody.”
The incident was caught on CCTV and Karen said she saw her husband spitting his teeth out onto the floor.
David went to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales and was treated for the injuries to his mouth, as well as cuts to his nose and lips.
Karen said the dental treatment has cost more than £6,000 so far and is expected to take another year.
Karen, who is having tests to be a kidney donor, said David has stage five renal failure and had to delay his treatment while having dental surgery.
In a statement read out in court, David said he liked to keep the area outside the shop tidy and could not believe he had been punched.
Following the assault, Warnett went into another shop and admitted he had just hit someone.
Police officers found the defendant at Sophia Gardens and he told them: “I hit him. I punched him once to the face.”
The defendant told the police he believed the shopkeeper was going to hit him with his broom.
Prosecutors said he did not have any previous convictions, but he was cautioned in November 2015 for common assault in Cathays.
Warnett, 47, from Nant y Wedal in Cathays, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Gareth Morley, defending, said his client had kept out of trouble since his caution four years ago.
He accepted the dispute about the A-board was “absolutely petty”.
Warnett was given a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of a rehabilitation activity. He will have to pay £8,000 in compensation, plus an £85 victim surcharge within the next year.
A two-year restraining order imposed. was