‘Distress’ suffered by family of assault victim

THE daughters of a man who suffered a fractured skull after being assaulted outside a pub were told their father might not come home from hospital, a court has heard.

The innocent bystander was punched to the floor during a late-night disturbance, suffering serious head injuries. He spent five days in intensive care.

Swansea Crown Court heard violence erupted outside Llanelli’s Met Bar in the early hours of July 7 this year.

Helen Randall, prosecuting, said Steven Price, 20, began exchanging blows with another man in the street. But then he and Joseph Price, 24, turned their attention to another male stood nearby. The court heard the pair struck the man to the head, sending him crashing to the floor.

The injured man was rushed to Morriston Hospital where fractures to both the left and right side of the skull were found.

The prosecutor read an impact statement from the victim in which he said the experience had caused “extreme distress” for his family, and his wife had to tell their young daughters “that I was in a bad way in hospital and may not come home”.

Joseph Price, of Maesydderwen, Llangennech, had previously pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and to battery, and Steven Price, of Nantwen, Llanelli, to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Joseph Price was sentenced to a total of 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation course.

Steven Price was sentenced to 21 months in a young offenders institution, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation course.