A recent court case.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/08/21/friends-jailed-for-25-years-for-merciless-train-station-assault-91466-31668563/A group of friends who subjected two men to a merciless eight-minute assault have been jailed for a total of 25 years.
The unprovoked attack at Llandudno rail station, which left one of the victims with partial loss of vision and permanent damage to his eye, took place after a day spent drinking in the town centre.
Brothers Jamie John Griffiths, aged 24, of Tywyn Isaf, Prestatyn, and Jordan Griffiths, aged 22, of Ffordd Talargoch, Prestatyn, and a third man, Ciaran Wright, aged 18, of Ffordd Pennant, Prestatyn, were jailed at Mold Crown Court.
A fourth male, a 17-year-old youth – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was sent to a young offenders' institute.
All four were found guilty at an earlier hearing of causing grievous bodily harm and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court was told that on Friday, 28 October 2011, the four men had been out in Llandudno town centre all day celebrating Wright’s 18th birthday, and had each consumed a large amount of alcohol.
Around 11.40pm, they made their way to the station to see if they could catch a train home to Prestatyn, and it was here that they came across the two victims – one aged 43 and a 22-year-old.
Jordan Griffiths, Wright and the 17-year-old youth became involved in an altercation with the two men. Jamie Griffiths then ran into the station and, without provocation, attacked one of them.
This initiated an attack on both victims by all four men that lasted eight minutes. During the assault, which was captured on CCTV, both victims were seen to be punched repeatedly and kicked while semi-conscious on the floor.
At no point did either victim demonstrate any aggression towards any of their attackers, with one of them pleading for them to stop on more than one occasion.
When two of the attackers fled the scene both Griffiths brothers remained and continued the attack for a further five minutes.
At one point, the court heard, both victims were unconscious on the floor with the brothers kicking them to the head.
An 18-year-old woman, who the group had met earlier in Llandudno and was with them as they made their way to the station, tried to intervene and stop the attack, but was pushed away.
Both victims suffered head and facial injuries, as well as cuts and bruises to the neck, chest and back. Both also had bite marks, while one of them suffered a rupture to the left eye, which a consultant ophthalmologist described as “untreatable and irreversible”, adding that the victim was now at risk of developing cataract glaucoma and a detached retina in the future.
As a result of the assault, Jamie Griffiths was recalled to prison to serve the remainder of a sentence he received after committing a burglary in Wellington Road, Rhyl, on 9 September 2011.
In interview, Jamie Griffiths said he was drunk at the time of the attack and did not remember everything. He admitted at one point to sitting on one of the victims, punching him repeatedly to the head, and conceded that, at that this point, he would have feared for his life.
Wright also conceded that he didn’t remember much, as it was his birthday and he was drunk. He did, however, admit during interview to kicking one of the victims to the head or upper body before running from the scene and putting his hood up to hide his identity. He added he was sorry for his actions.
Jordan Griffiths provided no comment to all questions asked in interview, while the 17-year-old youth claimed he was drunk and could remember only parts of the incident. He apologised before adding that he did not intend for anything to happen.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Mark Cleland, of British Transport Police, said: “This was a prolonged and horrific attack on two men who were making their way home from a night out in Llandudno.
“When they were unconscious and defenceless on the ground, both Griffiths brothers took advantage, launching violent blows to their victims, leaving them seriously injured.
“It is clear through the injuries suffered and the trauma of the ordeal that this incident has had a severe impact on the victims. Due to the severity of the attack, one of them has been left with a life-changing injury to his left eye, where he now has only peripheral vision.
“I welcome the sentences handed down and hope they go some way to helping the victims to start moving on with their lives.”
The two Griffiths brothers were each sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Wright was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
The 17-year-old youth was sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institute.
