Violent thug beat man while he was unconscious on the floor

A violent thug brutally beat a man while he was unconscious on the floor after his girlfriend refused to see him. His former partner was staying with the victim and his girlfriend at the time of the assault.

Grant Young, 32, attacked Christopher Johnson at his home in Cardiff on September 2 last year following an argument with his girlfriend Kimberley Shepherd. She had made it clear she did not want any contact with the defendant, and sought refuge at the home of her friend, who was in a relationship with Mr Johnson.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Young had repeatedly called Ms Shepherd without success and at 6.30am on September 2 he got a taxi to the victim's home in Llandaff North. He described himself as "drunk and angry" at the time, and demanded to speak to Ms Shepherd.

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Mr Johnson answered the door and ushered Young back to the taxi. He was driven away before ordering the taxi to return and again confronted Mr Johnson on his doorstep. The victim attempted to usher the defendant away from the property but Young took hold of a lamppost and refused to move.

A blow was delivered by Young which knocked Mr Johnson to the floor unconscious, causing his head to "bounce" off the floor. The defendant then straddled the victim and delivered a number of heavy punches to his face before kicking him. Mr Johnson was in no position to defend himself as a result of his condition.

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: "You blamed Mr Johnson for being the aggressor but nothing could be further from the truth. At no stage did he strike you or put you in fear of being struck by him. I am further satisfied your defence raised at trial was nothing but a charade for the extreme violence you used against him that morning."

Young, of Herbert Street, Gabalfa, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm following a trial. The court heard he had convictions for 24 separate offences including public disorder, violence against police, robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, using threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour and harassment.

In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Ruth Smith, Mr Johnson said he had been diagnosed with PTSD and for a time after the incident he was unable to eat or stand up because he was suffering with headaches. He received surgery to fix his face and mouth, had his jaw wired shut, had to have his teeth reset, had a metal plate fitted, broken eye sockets, and his cheekbone and nose had to be pushed back into his face. Mr Johnson was unable to work for five months, suffered long term concussion and was unable to play football for a year.

In mitigation, Peter Donnison said his client was sorry for the injuries which he did not intend to cause. Judge Jenkins continued: "This offence shows another act of indiscriminate unlawful violence resulting in injuries to another."

Young was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of one year. He will serve two thirds of the custodial sentence before he can be considered for release. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

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