A man attacked and savagely beat a stranger in the middle of Swansea after taking cocaine on a night out with friends, a court has heard. Thomas Little repeatedly punched and kicked his victim leaving him needing surgery to fit six metal plates and 24 screws in his smashed face.
Swansea Crown Court heard that after the assault Little texted a friend to say: "I think I've killed someone – I will be going to jail". Sending the 28-year-old to prison the judge said he had subjected his victim to a "fearful beating" that had caused significant injury.
Brian Simpson, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of the morning of October 31 last year Little approached a man in St Helen's Road in Swansea city centre and asked him if he had any cocaine. The man, a heroin addict, said he did not but he suggested the pair go to Wind Street to see if they could buy some. The pair made their way into Oxford Street and outside the Shoe Zone shop Little grabbed his companion around the neck and throttled him before taking him to the floor and brutally beating him including delivering a number of kicks. Little then went through the injured man's pockets.
READ MORE:Fake taxi driver lured woman into car and kidnapped and sexually assaulted her
READ MORE:'Habitual criminal' burgled hotel just weeks after getting out of prison
The court heard a member of security staff working at the nearby Dolphin Hotel heard screams and then saw the complainant walking towards him bleeding from obvious facial injuries. The emergency services were called and the casualty was taken to hospital. The prosecutor said shortly after the assault Little texted a friend to say: "I think I've killed someone – I will be going to jail".
Police began an area search of the city centre using a description given to them by CCTV operators and located the suspect in Princess Way. That man was Little and he had blood on his hands, face and clothes. When searched he was found to be carrying a small bag of cocaine. The defendant was arrested and subsequently questioned, giving a "no comment" interview to officers. The court heard a friend of Little later told police he had been with the defendant in Swansea's Jack Murphys bar on the night in question and Little left to buy cocaine before returning some time later saying he had been in a fight. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.
The court heard the victim suffered multiple fractures to his face, cheek, and nose bones as well as broken ribs, and he needed a number of surgical operations to fit a total of six metal plates and 24 screws in his jaw and cheeks. The prosecutor said police have since lost contact with the victim and it is thought he has left the area so there was no up-to-date information on his recovery.
Thomas Little, of Pant-yr-Heol, Penrhiwtyn, Neath, had previously pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and to the simple possession of cocaine when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions. Giles Hayes, for Little, said the defendant was embarrassed and ashamed to find himself in the dock and was genuinely remorseful. He said he was sure the first question on everyone's lips would be how a father with a sporting background and no previous convictions came to be in the position Little found himself in. Mr Hayes said client had started taking cocaine on a recreational basis and it was clear the drug had "dramatically affected his conduct" on the night in question.
Recorder Mark Powell told Little he had subjected his victim to a "fearful beating" and caused significant injuries to his face. He said he had read a host of references submitted to the court detailing the defendant's character, his sporting success and mentoring, and his work with under-privileged children and said he was satisfied that a by-product of Little taking cocaine was to render violent someone who was not usually violent. The recorder added that those who "dabble" in cocaine could find themselves acting in ways and ending up in situations that they likely did not expect.
With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Little was sentenced to four years in prison comprising four years for the section 18 GBH and two months for possession of cocaine to run concurrently. He will serve up to half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Check the latest crime statistics for your area:
