Jordan Cooney, 28, of Dewing Avenue, Manorbier, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for a brutal robbery that unfolded in Pembroke Dock. Dyfed-Powys Police have released a harrowing image of Cooney, the face of a man who subjected his victim to a relentless onslaught, leaving him battered and terrified.

The incident occurred on the evening of September 26 this year, when Cooney, under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, launched a vicious attack on a considerably older man in his Pembroke Dock flat. The victim, who bore the brunt of up to 30 blows to his face, recounted the horrifying experience in a victim personal statement presented during the trial at Swansea Crown Court last week.

In the chilling testimony, the victim expressed the profound impact of the robbery, stating that his life had been irrevocably altered. He now lives in constant fear, both outside and within the confines of his home. “I have never been hurt so much in my life,” he remarked, detailing the haunting nightmares that now plague his sleep.

The court heard that Cooney, aware that his victim was due to receive benefits at midnight on September 26, orchestrated a premeditated plan to exploit this knowledge. He ruthlessly demanded the victim’s debit card and PIN number during the assault, persistently striking him in the face between each word. Cooney’s motive became evident when, shortly after midnight, he visited a cash point in Pembroke Dock and successfully withdrew £500 from the victim’s account.

Judge Mr Recorder J Powell KC condemned the calculated nature of the crime, describing it as a “deliberate plan” aimed at extracting money once the victim’s benefits had been deposited. The injuries sustained by the victim were deemed “appalling,” and the judge expressed relief that more serious injuries or fractures had not occurred.

Cooney’s crime didn’t end with the initial assault. In a horrifying turn of events, when the victim attempted to escape, Cooney pursued him, dragging him back into the flat by his hair, and subjected him to further physical violence. The police, upon responding to the victim’s property, discovered him with a severely swollen and bloody face, with blood stains marking the brutality of the assault.

Arrested on the afternoon of September 27 in Monkton, Cooney was found in possession of two bags of cocaine worth approximately £100. Initially denying charges of robbery, fraud, and causing actual bodily harm, he later pleaded guilty to the charges at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, November 10.

In court, it was revealed that Cooney had a troubling criminal history, with 16 previous convictions for 39 offenses. Shockingly, he was on bail and under supervision at the time of the robbery and assault. Cooney’s defence cited his remorse and a genuine commitment to addressing his issues, including drug misuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Despite this, Cooney was handed a five-year and three-month prison sentence, with half of the term to be served behind bars and the remainder on licence. The sentencing sends a stern message about the consequences of such heinous acts, as the community grapples with the aftermath of a crime that has left indelible scars on the victim and the town of Pembroke Dock.