Conspiracy theorist threw chair at doctor and stabbed man twice
A FAN of online conspiracy theories threw a chair at a doctor and went on to stab a man twice.
It was said he had become isolated and spent five years without leaving his flat.
Aaron Watkins attended a doctor’s appointment at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant on August 17 last year but became enraged with Dr Neil Scott after he told Watkins he had nothing medically wrong with him.
The 34-year-old followed the doctor into his office and told him: “Because of feminine people like you and women is why society is in the state that it is”.
He then pulled off the doctor’s glasses and threw a chair at him.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the defendant was released on bail but on January 5 this year he armed himself with a knife and attacked his partner’s daughter’s boyfriend Elis Lloyd, who was sitting in a car.
He told the victim: “Do you want to see my knife? You’ve been laughing about my life.”
He stabbed Mr Lloyd to the stomach and his thigh.
In his police interview, the defendant said he was wound up by messages but these weren’t sent by the victim.
Judge Simon Mills said: “Some of the messaging at that time is disturbing.
“You armed yourself with a weapon in advance and I’m sure there was a degree of pre-planning to that offence.”
In a victim personal statement, Mr Lloyd said: “It took me by surprise and I did not see him opening the door. I saw the knife in his hand with which he stabbed me twice.
“I felt something sharp entering my body and something warm on my stomach area, which was bleeding heavily.
“After I had been stabbed and got out of the car I was in shock at what happened and could not think why he did this to me.
“I felt I was going to die. There was a lot of blood and pain in my abdomen area.”
Watkins, of Claerwen, Gelligaer, Caerphilly, pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding and assaulting an emergency worker.
In mitigation, Ed Mitchard said his client was a “complex character” who had suffered an adverse childhood.
He said the defendant became a recluse in 2018 and didn’t leave the house for five years.
Having become involved with online forums, he became interested in conspiracy theories which made him suspicious of others.
Mr Mitchard said the defendant has been in the hospital wing while on remand in prison.
Sentencing, Judge Mills said: “You’ve got a number of fixed beliefs. It’s clear to me you spend far too long looking at nonsense, especially conspiracy theories on the internet which have plainly completely disorientated your ability to make judgements about yourself.
“You have got some misogynistic beliefs as well, which you’ll have to think long and hard about.”
Watkins was sentenced to a total of three years and 10 months’ imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order indefinitely.