Ex-soldier jailed for attack
A FORMER solider with post-traumatic stress disorder subjected a friend to a vicious four-hour assault which included repeatedly punching and kicking the man, slamming a heavy glass ashtray into his head and putting him in chokeholds.
Damien Richard Davies’ victim had to “play dead” while being throttled by the ex-welsh Guardsman in a desperate bid to save himself. He was left with so many bruises it was impossible for medics to record them all on a diagram of his body.
Swansea Crown Court heard 32-year-old Davies had convictions for assaults on two previous partners, one of whom he had also put in a “chokehold”. John Hipkin, prosecuting, said Davies had known his victim for around three years, and while they were not in a relationship it was said they had “passed the friendship stage”.
On December 11 last year Davies attended his grandmother’s funeral, and that evening went to his friend’s flat on The Strand in Swansea.
The court heard the exserviceman was “confrontational”, and began goading his friend.
Davies then pushed him onto the sofa and sat astride him, putting his hands around his neck and then punching him to the face.
The court heard Davies then began to rain blows down on the man, the attack only stopping when the defendant exhausted himself from all the punching.
After taking a breather, Davies resumed the attack – this time he kicked as well as punched the man, landing blows on his face, head, back and chest.
The prosecutor said the victim thought Davies was going to kill him.
Mr Hipkin said Davies then grabbed a heavy glass ashtray and, in the defendant’s words “drove it into the back of his head” before picking up a speaker from a stereo and hitting him with that too.
Davies then put his friend into a chokehold, “squeezing to the point of suffocation” – the victim “pretended to be dead” to get his attacker to let go, something that was to be repeated another three times.
The ordeal lasted between three and four hours, and only came to an end when the couple in the neighbouring flat called the police following what they said sounded like “someone being killed”.
Davies, of Rosehill Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
Dan Griffiths, for Davies, said his client had been to a family funeral on the day in question, and as well as being upset had consumed a “significant” amount of alcohol and had smoked cannabis.
He said Davies had seen his “personality change” during his time in the Welsh Guards, and his service had left him prone to outbursts of anger.
He said: “The defendant’s time in the Armed Forces clearly adversely impacted on his mental health.”
The advocate said his client had sought help for anxiety, depression and the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, but that his condition was not helped by his excessive alcohol consumption and abuse of amphetamine and cannabis.
Judge William Gaskell said it was to the defendant’s credit that he had served his country in the Army, and said that during his time in the armed forces had experienced “a number of disturbing incidents” and witnessed the deaths of friends.
He said Davies had sought help from a GP as long ago as 2015 for his low moods and binge drinking and cannabis use, and then during 2017 and 2018 had received counselling and support for post-traumatic stress.
The judge said it was clear Davies had a “strong violent element” to his personality, and he said he agreed with a probation assessment that the veteran posed a high risk of causing serious harm to intimate or former partners, and should be classed as a dangerous offender.
The judge imposed a seven-year sentence comprising five years in custody, with an extended two-year licence period.