News
Brothers sent to prison after sustained attack
TWO brothers were sent to prison on Wednesday (Feb 3) after assaulting a female by beating.
Elliot Jack Lewis, aged 20 and Nyle Shaun Lewis, aged 24 of Stranraer Road in Pennar Pembroke Dock, appeared at the court for a trial after pleading not guilty to the charge.
However, they pleaded guilty ten minutes before the trial was due to start.
Vaughan Pritchard-Jones of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The complainant was in an on and off relationship with Nyle, and had moved in together in September 2015. The incident occurred two months later.
“The victim had an affair, and Nyle didn’t want to let her forget that. She had attended a party with him on November 28, and had drank a lot of alcohol. She left at midnight, walked home alone and went to bed.
“The next thing she remembered was that Nyle was in her bedroom pulling the covers off her. She said his face was red and screwed up, and he was shouting and angry. He said ‘You’ve messaged him again. I’ve been through your phone’.”
The court heard how Nyle took the phone into the bathroom with him, locking the door behind him. He proceeded to read out messages that had been sent between the complainant and the person she had been having an affair with, and demanded he give her back her phone.
Mr Pritchard-Jones continued: “The next thing she remembers is Nyle taking his temper out on things. He ripped a 40” TV from a wall bracket and threw it on the floor. This made her feel scared. He continued to swipe items from shelves and smash her belongings, including a birthday flute she received for her 21st birthday.
“The complainant also owns a 5ft driftwood tree, which she cannot lift by herself. The court heard how Nyle managed to pick this up and throw it down the stairs. She says these are typical actions when he gets angry.”
Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The next distinct and vivid memory she has, is of Nyle pulling her hair with such force that it felt like her scalp was on fire. He pulled her down the stairs by her hair on hands and knees. She was stumbling down the stairs, and she pleaded with him saying ‘let me go’ but he wouldn’t. She remembered he kept calling her a liar.”
Nyle’s younger brother, Elliot arrived, and refused to leave when told to get out. Nyle claimed that the only reason they had got back together was because she wanted his money to buy Christmas presents, and that he had paid for most of the items in the house.
“Elliot grabbed the hood of her hooded top and dragged her out of the house,” said Mr Pritchard-Jones, “and pulled her so hard that she was struggling to breathe. She tried to scream but couldn’t, and was worried she was going to pass out.
“She then tried to pull the neck of her hooded top down, but could only manage to get a few fingers in between.”
He continued: “She could hear Nyle shouting leave it, and Elliot pulled her outside and ran back in the house. She says she thought ‘This is my house, and I’m not going to be locked out of my own house’.
“She went to the back door and then to the front. Nyle saw her, grabbed her hair and pulled her back in, and the argument continued.”
A neighbour who heard the ongoing argument attended the property, and tried to get the Lewis brothers to leave. They didn’t listen, and proceeded to go upstairs with the complainant.
Nyle began questioning her about the messages he had seen on her phone, when Elliot pushed her on the bed. The court heard how she went into the fetal position as Elliot straddled over her, with his legs either side, and repeatedly punched her.
“She can’t remember how many times he hit her,” said Mr Pritchard-Jones, “but she managed to deflect some of the blows, which resulted in injuries on her arms. She doesn’t know why he stopped, but he got off.”
After the incident, the complainant felt extremely angry, and attempted to retaliate. Nyle stopped her from advancing, and grabbed her by the wrists, therefore she headbutted him twice.
Her neighbour persuaded them to leave and took them away in her car. Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The aggravating features are the level of injuries, it’s the top end of the common assault, and it’s two men versus one woman.
“She was drunk, and wasn’t in a position to defend herself.” Photographs of her injuries were shown to the court, which showed her to have two black eyes, and multiple cuts, grazes and bruises scattered around her body.
Defending Nyle, Matthew Greenish of Red Kite Law said: “Nyle had come back because his medication was there, and Elliot attended. Nyle accepts he took his frustrations out on the property, and a scuffle broke out.
“Incidents have taken place, and Nyle grabbed her to stop her hitting Elliot, and she headbutted him twice. It takes two to tango, or in this case, three. Nobody is innocent and nobody has the blame on their door.
“The use of excessive force was to get his tablets. He accepts in hindsight he should have dealt with it differently. He is a pleasant young man.”
Michael Kelleher, defending Elliot, said: “The photographs are extremely serious, and when Elliot saw them he gasped. Incidents like this happen quickly and you don’t see the consequence until after. However, there’s nothing more than bruises.
“The lady’s version of events is difficult to read, as she couldn’t remember bits because of intoxication. Elliot was going in to restrain her so Nyle could get his medication.”
After hearing this, Mr Pritchard- Jones exclaimed: “To say they were going to get his medication is nonsensical and ludicrous.”
The victim’s statement was read to the court, where she described how she is fearful to be in her own home, and has been staying at a different address since the incident.
She explained that she was embarrassed to go into work and knew that people were looking at her and feeling sorry for her. She said that her world had been turned upside down, and said: “I have never seen Nyle with so much hate. I didn’t deserve to be assaulted.”
After listening carefully to all the evidence, Magistrates sent both men into immediate custody for 23 weeks. They must also pay £400 compensation each to the victim, and £80 victim surcharge each.
A restraining order was also put in place.
News
Too many children in Wales living in poverty – Lib Dems want action
THIS week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed their demands for the implementation of child poverty targets.
According to a report from the Bevan foundation, 29% of children living in Wales are currently experiencing poverty (an estimated 190,000 children).
The same report highlighted that the largest percentage of children living in poverty are from working households or in couple households.
The Welsh Lib Dems are now renewing calls for the Welsh Government to create a set of targets for reducing child poverty, which the party argues will allow for more accountability.
The party has previously called for the implementation of targets, citing recommendations from the Calling Time on Child Poverty Report published in November last year.
Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “The latest statistics on childhood poverty in Wales paints a very distressing image of families across the country struggling to make ends meet.
Over the course of the last six years, the proportion of children in poverty has skyrocketed. Fuelled by worsening economic conditions and a complete lack of action from both governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay.
We cannot act complacent about these figures nor accept the clear lack of progress in fighting child poverty, behind each statistic is a child that the state has failed.
It remains painfully clear that the Welsh Government is failing to make any meaningful progress in this fight, which is why they must follow through with the implementation of clear set targets that will allow for further accountability.
We as a party have continuously called for the creation of these targets and we will not be silenced. For the sake of future generations we urge the Welsh Government to listen.”
Crime
Welsh constabulary areas record another increase in shoplifting
RETAIL trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in 2023 there were significant increases in shoplifting across all constabulary areas in Wales. In the whole of England and Wales there has been a persistent upward trend since the pandemic, which continued with a 37% increase and has now risen to the highest level in 20 years.
The Office for National Statistics released figures showing a 39% increase in shoplifting incidents across Wales and by constabulary area as follows:
- Dyfed-Powys +11%
- Gwent +47%
- North Wales +23%
- South Wales +51%
Usdaw’s 2023 annual survey of over 5,500 shopworkers found that 60% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. This 39% increase in shoplifting across Wales is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.
“Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in the stores and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. 60% of respondents said theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for these incidents.
“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shopworkers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. This has been made worse by police cuts and a failure to legislate to protect retail staff. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker and that has been vehemently opposed by this Government and their Conservative MPs on many occasions.
“Recently the Government performed a long overdue U-turn after many years of sustained campaigning by Usdaw and others. Our members have had to wait too long for their voices to be heard and common sense to prevail. We will have to see the detail of what Ministers are proposing and we are clear that it must be at least what we won in Scotland three years ago. It also cannot fall short of Labour’s commitments to 13,000 more uniformed officers, patrols on high streets, banning repeat offenders and ending the perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.
“The dither and delay by this Government on this issue over many years, has led to thousands of shopworkers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. Today’s stats should ensure that their promise to legislate is done speedily. We hope that whatever the Government is proposing will be substantial and effective in giving shopworkers, key workers in every community, the respect that they have long deserved and regrettably too often do not receive.”
Business
Paramount’s key role in transformation of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
FAST-growing Welsh company Paramount is relishing the challenge of creating an “irresistible dining destination” after winning the contract to play a key role in the multi-million transformation of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.
The Cardiff-based design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist will spearhead the re-development project of the shopping centre after being handed responsibility for revamping its popular food court over the summer.
In the coming months, the development will see the Food Court transformed into three modern, and bright restaurants, welcoming new food and beverage brands to the centre and creating more than 100 new job opportunities for the local community.
Paramount’s Construction Director, Paul Thomas, said: “The team behind the scenes at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend have fantastic plans for the future and we’re delighted to have been entrusted with the mission to help turn their exciting vision into a reality.
“Paramount prides itself on creating places where people want to be, and my team are relishing the opportunity to help create what will be an irresistible dining destination. It’s certain to be a complex project, but we have the expertise and local knowledge to deliver outstanding results in close collaboration with our project partners.”
The owners of the shopping centre, which has been attracting local people and visitors for more than 25 years, have promised a “substantial investment to redevelop the Food Court area and replace it with new and exciting restaurants”.
Now the Paramount team is ready to lay the groundwork by removing some existing structures around the Food Court and will then introduce a series of new features as part of the overall facelift. These include new glazed entrance doors within glazed curtain walling shopfront, render and a new entrance lobby with new stairs and lifts.
The work to completely develop the Food Court in the shopping centre starts this week, and is expected to be completed in late autumn. As a result, customer favourites including Nando’s, McDonald’s and Chopsticks will be closed while work is under way.
Patrick Finney, Head of European Construction, McArthurGlen Group, said: “After celebrating our 25th anniversary last year, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Paramount on board in this important step of revitalising the Food Court area.
“These are exciting times for everyone at one of South Wales’ best-loved retail complexes and we know Paramount will work closely with us to create a truly special place for diners and shoppers of all ages.”
Paramount, whose turnover reached £45 million in 2023, employs 60 people who own a majority shareholding of the business – 51 per cent – following completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme in 2021, a deal which marked a major milestone for Paramount after a period of sustained growth.
The company is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House and Fusion Point One in central Cardiff, and the fit out of Par 59 bars in South Wales and South West.
Over the next few months, Paramount’s construction team will also be completing on a multi-million-pound social housing development in Porthcawl, Mid-Glamorgan with Valleys to Coast.
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