‘He started biting me – it was like a dog. I was left in one hell of a mess’
ACRICKET coach and former Welsh youth cricket player was left covered in bites after he was attacked by a prominent Saudi-based businessman.
Anthony Wade Mears, from Aberdare, launched the vicious attack on Jarrad Davies after the pair clashed during a night out in a Wetherspoon pub just two days before Christmas in 2018.
Mears, who was sentenced on Monday for unlawful wounding at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, was described by his victim as being “like a bull who had seen red” as he bit him four times while the pair rolled around on the floor.
The bites were so deep the doctors at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, where Mr Davies later received treatment, asked him what type of dog had attacked him, he claimed.
Mr Davies, a child support worker, had to take more than a month off work after the attack at the Yr Ieuan Ap Iago pub in Aberdare and was put on a 40-day course of medication to reduce the risk of contracting infection.
Speaking about the attack, Mr Davies said he had been enjoying drinks with his brother Nathan and another friend, John Spencer, on December 23 when Mr Spencer bumped into Mears.
“We bumped into him and he gave us some chat,” said Mr Davies, 23.
“I saw him coming. I was in front and just happened to be the next person in line. I put my hands up and told him: ‘It’s the 23rd of December, leave it well enough alone.’”
The whole exchange was captured on CCTV footage that was played to Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke during the sentencing hearing. Judge Lloyd-Clarke addressed 51-year-old Mears, saying: “It seems that Mr Spencer bumped into you accidentally and an incident develops. Your reaction is to become violent.”
While there was no sound on the footage the judge referred to evidence from witnesses who had described how Mears turned to friends and said “Hold my f ****** cigarette” before facing Mr Davies and attacking him.
Talking to the Western Mail before the hearing, Mr Davies said he had tackled Mears in self-defence. “He was like a bull who had seen red,” he said.
“When we landed he started biting me – it was like a dog. I was left in one hell of a mess.”
Mears then rolled Mr Davies over and bit him on the stomach so hard it left him with a wound that looked “like a second belly-button”.
Mears initially denied the charge, saying Mr Davies had got his injuries in a separate fight. But after seeing the CCTV footage he pleaded guilty at the opening of his trial.
John Ryan, for the defence, said Mears had been born into a “respectable family” in Aberdare where his father was a detective inspector for more than 30 years. Mr Ryan said he was not a man “born with a silver spoon in his mouth” but someone who had worked his way to the top.
Mears qualified as an accountant before becoming finance director at a number of international aluminium recycling firms. According to his LinkedIn profile he was most recently based in Saudi Arabia, where he was president at the Ma’aden Aluminium Company plant, managing more than 800 employees.
Sentencing Mears, a dad of two, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: “This was clearly a repeated offence because there are four bite marks. You used the equivalent of a weapon when you used your teeth.” A custodial sentence was her “only course of action,” she added.
Mr Davies’ dad Todd, who sat in the public gallery for the sentencing, said his son had refused to go out for months afterwards and was all over the place during his treatment.
Mr Davies, a keen sportsman who plays cricket for Lisvane and was awarded young coach of the year in 2018, was emotional as Mears was sent down for 21 months.
“I’m overwhelmed and just glad it’s done now,” he said.
Mears will serve half of his sentence in custody before he can apply to be released on licence.