Rail thug dug man in eye in bullying row
ATHUG who gouged the eye of a Good Samaritan rugby fan when his victim stepped in to stop the defendant threatening his own crying partner has been jailed.
Anthony Smith, 30, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).
The court heard Smith’s victim, David Whiteley, approached the defendant on a train between Cardiff and Bridgend on February 20 this year after Smith was shouting at and threatening his own partner.
Mr Whiteley had been to Cardiff on the day of the attack with his wife to watch the Cardiff Blues and to have a meal.
They got on the 8.15pm train from Cardiff back to their home in Pencoed, Bridgend.
When in the train carriage Mr Whiteley saw a woman, who appeared to be emotional and had her head in her hands, leaving the toilet.
Five minutes later Smith sat next to the woman and was described by Mr Whiteley as raising his voice and using an aggressive tone.
Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said: “At one point Mr Whitely saw the man put his hands around the female’s neck and was holding her. She was crying.
“He then saw the male punch himself four or five times.
“Mr Whiteley stood up and saw the male punching towards the female’s face but not making contact.”
The court then heard that the victim went over to Smith and said, “Excuse me, you need to calm down”, to which Smith responded, “What the f*** has it got to do with you?” and then started shouting and lunging towards him.
Mr Whiteley pushed Smith, from Bridgend, back down in to his seat and and tried to restrain him.
Mr Broadstock added: “Mr Whiteley was wearing a large anorak, which Smith grabbed, and he saw Smith’s left arm come towards his face.
“He felt a sharp pain to his right eyelid.
“Smith grabbed again and Mr Whiteley felt a thumb in his right eye socket.”
After a further scuffle Smith released Mr Whiteley when he saw two train staff.
Mr Whiteley and his wife then got off at Pencoed. British Transport Police were called and officers were waiting for Smith at Bridgend but the defendant managed to avoid arrest by taking a taxi to his partner’s address.
He was arrested some time later and claimed he had acted in self-defence, but he later admitted the attack.
Defence barrister Adam Sharpe, representing Smith, told the court his client had brought these matters on himself and the incident had taken place as a result of drink.
Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry said: “This was an incident of loutish and drunken behaviour on a train.”
Smith, of Pender, Litchard, Bridgend, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for the ABH offence, plus a further eight months, to run consecutively, for breaching two suspended sentences.