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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
He attacked his partner then strangled her daughter as she lay helpless on the floor
He attacked his partner then strangled her daughter as she lay helpless on the floor Mark Moon, 46, was charged with actual bodily harm, strangulation and assault by beating Mark Moon, 46, from Porth (Image: South Wales Police ) A 46-year-old man has been jailed after he attacked his partner and then assaulted and strangled her daughter in front of her as she tried to help her mum. Judge Simon Mills told Mark Moon that if he was violent again, he would be going to prison for a "very, very long time". Alice Sykes, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that on February 15, 2025, Moon had consumed some Stella beer and a whole bottle of spirit. He kicked his partner in the ribs which winded her and caused a wound to her face which meant she couldn't see. The court heard that her head hit a nearby plug socket so hard that it broke and when her daughter then tried to help he pinned her up against the wall. When she said she was going to ring the police he put his arm around her neck, restricting her breathing, and said: "It's your f***ing fault, you should not have provoked me." In a victim impact statement read to the court by Ms Sykes, his former partner said the incident happened six days before her father's funeral. "We laid him to rest with the physical and emotional scars Mark inflicted on us," she reflected. She added that as a result of the incident she even considered not going to the funeral, saying the incident had left a "lasting and significant impact" on her and her daughter's lives. Article continues below The court heard that Moon had 36 previous convictions, including for violence, battery and actual bodily harm (ABH). Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . Edward Mitchard, representing Moon, told the court his client had a difficult upbringing and was exposed to violence as a young person. Mr Mitchard added: "When times get tough he resorts to excessive drinking and lashes out at those closest to him." Moon, of Cemetery Road in Porth, pleaded guilty to charges of ABH, strangulation and assault by beating. During sentencing, Judge Simon Mills said: "The way that you treated those two women at that point close to you was terrifying. Against a background where you have repeatedly inflicted serious violence against other people, what you did was totally unacceptable. "You then lost your temper and subjected the victim to appalling misogynistic abuse when you knocked her to the ground. In my view she was particularly vulnerable because of her personal circumstances. "You started punching her daughter and then strangled her. The amount of times I have seen in my career where strangulation by a man like you has resulted in death, I have seen it too many times and I really worry that you are going to lose control of yourself again in the future because you do not seem to be able to stop yourself." Article continues below The judge warned that the punishment would be much harsher if he was to commit a similar crime again. He said: "If you are violent again, particularly with a woman you are in a relationship with, you will be going to prison for a very, very long time. It's got to stop." Judge Mills sentenced Moon to three years in prison and put a restraining order in place to protect both victims for ten years.
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Brynmawr knifeman slashed victim after partying with him
Anthony Foley, 36, from Brynmawr went to Kieran Smith's flat in Bargoed the next day and punched him while he was asleep on his sofa. The defendant then slashed the 'dazed' victim twice to the forearm with the blade, causing 'serious gashes' on his left forearm. He and Mr Smith had been drinking and taking drugs together with others hours before the attack. The motive for the violence was 'unclear' but may have been because Foley was angry about him having something to do with his ex-girlfriend leaving him. Emily Jermin, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court how Mr Smith was taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil for treatment. In a victim impact statement, he said: 'I have flashbacks and keep seeing the defendant coming towards me with the knife.' Foley pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article. The assault took place on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Miss Jermin revealed that the defendant has 28 previous convictions for 50 offences. They include assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2013, two counts of battery in 2021 and three counts of assault of an emergency worker in 2022. Judge Shomon Khan asked Foley's lawyer Ed Mitchard: 'Why did he go there with the knife? That's the question.' Mr Mitchard replied that his client was carrying it after being the victim of 'a serious assault'. He added: 'The defendant didn't mean to use the knife – the first attack was with fists.' Foley had worked as a roofer and relapsed into taking drugs after his partner left with their children. 'This was an argument muddled by the misuse of drugs and alcohol,' Mr Mitchard added. 'He is capable of change.' The court heard how the defendant has been working with Dyfodol, a drug and alcohol intervention service for Welsh prisons. Judge Khan told Foley: 'You punched your victim in the face twice leaving him dazed before taking a knife from your jacket. 'The producing of the knife is of real concern and your motive is unclear.' He added: 'I do accept there is genuine remorse and I hope this is a turning point in your life.' The defendant was jailed for four years and four months. Foley was told he will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly dangerous driver rammed police cars before crash
Niall Bright, 28, from Abercarn, Caerphilly led officers on the pursuit from Whitchurch Road in Cardiff to the village of Bonvilston in the Vale of Glamorgan. The disqualified driver was at the wheel of a Volkswagen Polo when he was spotted at 3am in the morning on Monday, May 19. Elin Morgan, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that Bright drove through a stinger device before speeding at 70mph in a 30mph zone. He also ignored a red light and travelled on the wrong side of the road 'coming close to other vehicles'. Following his collision and arrest 'a female passenger travelling with him was described as being shaken and unable to speak'. Four police cars were involved in boxing Bright in with one of the officers he rammed suffering an injured shoulder. The defendant refused to give the police a specimen of blood. 'There was a blatant disregard for the rules of the road,' Miss Morgan added. 'Two of the police cars were damaged.' Bright, of no fixed abode, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, possession of amphetamine and driving with no insurance. These offences put him in breach of a suspended prison sentence that was imposed on April 4, 2024 for dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. The defendant has previous convictions for dangerous driving in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023. In total, he has 14 previous convictions for 35 offences. Kevin Seal for Bright said his client's mother had suffered a stroke at the time of his offending. His barrister said: 'He entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity and he bitterly regrets his actions.' Judge Richard Kember told Bright: 'The manner of your driving attracted the attention of the police and a stinger was deployed.' He jailed the defendant for 26 months and told him he would serve half of that sentence in custody before being released on licence. The defendant will be banned from driving for five years and he will have to sit an extended retest. He must also pay a statutory victim surcharge.
South Wales Argus
15-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
‘Unlucky' Newport drug dealer caught after car broke down
Lewis Hill, 23, from Newport avoided going straight to jail following mitigation that he provides for a child and has a second one on the way. The defendant was found with cannabis and between £5,000 and £7,000 cash after he was stopped for speeding in the city in August 2023. James Evans, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: 'Strangely, the money has not been counted by the police.' The 15.67g of drugs Hill was found with had an estimated street value of between £375 and £525. 'The defendant was released under investigation and, unluckily for him, officers caught up with him again when his Volkswagen Golf broke down on Corporation Road,' Mr Evans said. Police seized cannabis worth around £2,500 on this occasion last March as well as £610 in cash and a mobile phone containing drug-related messages to around 100 contacts. Hill, of St Julians Road, Newport pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property. The defendant has previous convictions for possession of drugs but none for trafficking. His barrister Gareth Williams told the court: 'He is not a man of previous good character but he is lightly convicted. 'He has a full-time job which is well paid – he provides for his former partner and their child and he has another one on the way. 'The penny seems to have dropped for him now in terms of him making better decisions.' The defendant had stayed out of trouble with police since his last arrest 15 months ago, Mr Williams added. Judge Lucy Crowther told Hill she believed he was capable of being rehabilitated in the community. The defendant was jailed for 20 months with the sentence suspended for two years. He will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Hill is set to face a proceeds of crime hearing in October.
South Wales Argus
12-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Newport driver sped at 120mph during Cwmbran police chase
Craig Peacock, 35, from Newport made a doomed attempt to escape the law during a 10-minute high-speed pursuit through Cwmbran on Friday, April 11. The defendant had taken cocaine and cannabis but later refused to provide a blood sample at the police station after testing positive at the roadside. Ben Jones, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court how Peacock had been spotted speeding by Police Constable Elliot Morgan on Henllys Way. The defendant was travelling at 50mph in a 20mph zone in his Peugeot 307 car. Peacock turned his lights off when he reached the A4042 and began overtaking and undertaking fellow road users while speeding at 120mph. He crashed into a lamppost near the Crow's Nest pub before running off. Peacock was soon caught by PC Morgan and arrested. 'The defendant made full and frank admissions in his interview,' Mr Jones said. Peacock, of Clarence Place, Newport admitted dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He has 17 previous convictions for 31 offences which include violence and dishonesty matters. Relevant previous convictions include dangerous driving and drug driving. Jac Brown, representing him, said: 'He recognises there will be only one outcome today and that is an immediate custodial sentence. 'The best mitigation is his early guilty pleas which entitles him to the maximum credit. 'He made a foolish attempt to avoid the police." His barrister added how his client had been trying to 'tackle his substance misuse' in prison after being remanded in custody for the past two months. Judge Rhys Rowlands told Peacock: 'You were driving at grossly excessive speeds in the Cwmbran area. 'There is ample evidence that you deliberately ignored the rules of the road. 'Failing to provide a sample is an aggravating feature of this case.' The defendant was jailed for 14 months and disqualified from driving for three years and seven months. He will have to sit an extended retest and pay a statutory victim surcharge following his release from prison.
