Man left scarred for life by trio’s city centre attack
AGROUP of men on a night out in Cardiff launched a random cocaine-fuelled attack on a stranger. Paul Healey, Krewys Edwards and Anthony James brutally beat up Huw Roberts in a Caroline Street kebab shop. Punches and a pane of glass were thrown as Mr Roberts suffered a permanent 8cmlong scar across his cheek.
Prosecutor Byron Broadstock told Cardiff Crown Court that Mr Roberts visited the Welsh capital on January 1, 2022, meeting a friend that evening in the Cambrian Tap pub on St Mary Street. “Mr Roberts went to the toilets and there were four men inside the cubicle he tried to access,” said Mr Broadstock. “They told him to f*** off. He waited for another cubicle to become free, went in, then heard the four males leave the toilets. But some minutes later they returned and started banging and kicking his cubicle’s door, shouting at him.
“He tried his best to prevent them from entering but they were able to do so and started to attack him. At that point he was able to make off and run from the pub into a takeaway on Caroline Street. Footage shows the victim was assaulted in the shop by more than three persons – others have not been apprehended – but these three defendants all played a significant role in that assault.”
James, 36, grabbed and pulled at Mr Roberts while Healey, 47, and Edwards, 28, repeatedly hit him. Mr Roberts sought shelter behind the takeaway’s counter but James began to squirt vinegar at him. Screams could be heard as the glass counter smashed and a pane was thrown at Mr Roberts. It is not known which individual was responsible for the glass attack that scarred his face.
In a statement he said he had been planning to get a job selling cars but the wound had knocked his confidence. He added: “It is a constant reminder of what happened. The fact I didn’t know these men puts me in constant fear that it could happen again.”
The shop owner said smashed glass went into the food and a fridge was broken during the attack. He was forced to close the takeaway for repairs, resulting in losses of around £3,000.
Edwards, of Pyle Road in Caerau, was arrested at the scene and a bag of cocaine was found on him. He admitted to having “a few sniffs” and drinking heavily all day but said he could not remember the assault. James, of Penhill Close in Llandaff, claimed he had tried to break up the fight but the prosecutor said the footage showed him “delivering the last blow”.
Healey, of Kilgetty Close in Caerau, told police he had been assaulted earlier in the evening but only had a “gut feeling” that Mr Roberts was involved. He claimed none of his punches in the takeaway had connected with Mr Roberts despite it being “quite clear” that they had, according to Mr Broadstock.
The prosecutor added that all three defendants were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Each pleaded guilty to Section 20 unlawful wounding and affray, while Edwards also admitted criminal damage and possession of a Class A drug.
The court heard James had previous convictions for animal cruelty, supplying Class A drugs, criminal damage, battery and burglary. Edwards had a previous grievous bodily harm (GBH) offence on his record and Healey had no other convictions.
Harry Baker, representing James, told the court his “remorseful” client had been out of trouble since 2010 and had “overcome a lot of issues on his own” after a difficult childhood in the care system.
Kevin Seal said his client Edwards understands his behaviour had been “pathetic”.
And Owen Williams, for Healey, said the 47-year-old had worked all his adult life and built a successful roofing business with his brother.
Judge Lucy Crowther sentenced each defendant to 21 months in jail suspended for two years. James must undergo alcohol abstinence monitoring for 100 days and complete a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am and 20 days of rehabilitation, as well as paying £200 in compensation to Mr Roberts. Edwards and Healey must each pay £800 in compensation. The judge also ordered Edwards to pay a £100 fine over the cocaine possession. He must complete 15 days of rehabilitation and 200 hours of unpaid work, while Healey was handed 220 hours of unpaid work.