Man jailed after he broke arm of friend’s neighbour

A man visiting a friend at a block of flats in Cardiff left his friend’s neighbour with a broken arm following a “disgraceful” confrontation.

Liam Liddell, 27, was visiting a friend at Litchfield Court when he ended up assaulting resident Muktar Jimcalleh.

In his sentencing remarks at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Jenkins told the defendant: “You rained a large number of blows to his head and body.”

The court heard the incident occurred in Tudor Street in the Riverside area of the capital on Saturday, June 4, last year.

Prosecutor Tony Trigg said Mr Jimcalleh was expecting a visit from a friend when he heard an argument outside his flat.

He said it was accepted the complainant threw a punch at Liddell, which was met with “a series of punches”.

Mr Trigg said: “The complainant fell to the ground and there was a further flurry of punches.”

The court heard Mr Jimcalleh suffered a broken humerus bone in his arm and had to have hospital treatment.

Prosecutors said Liddell had 17 previous convictions for 40 offences including theft, burglary and criminal damage.

Liddell, from Crawford Drive in Pontprennau, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Tim Evans, defending, argued the broken arm was caused by the complainant falling over and told the court the two men “shook hands” after the confrontation.

He said his client was addicted to Class A drugs, adding: “He has demonstrated a determination to improve his life.”

Judge Jenkins described the incident as “disgraceful”.

The judge noted the complainant threw a punch but that Liddell retaliated with “a number of blows”.

He said: “He was obviously by now in pain and unable to defend himself but you rained a large number of blows to his head and body.”

Liddell was jailed for a year.