After the couple tried to get away from him he pursued them before getting one in a headlock and punching the other
Matthew Williams, 34, was sentenced for a string of offences at Caernarfon Crown Court(Image: North Wales Police)
A violent and racist thug randomly attacked a couple out walking late at night, a court has heard. The couple had been minding their own business while walking in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, on May 25 when Matthew Williams, 34, began trying to talk to them, a sentencing hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court was told on Monday, October 13.
Prosecutor Simon Parry told the hearing how Williams, who is from Bridgend, told the couple: “I will give you four bags if you smash up a car for me.” As the couple attempted to walk away Williams, who was clearly intoxicated, randomly pursued them before getting the man in a headlock.
When the woman tried to intervene Williams, who didn’t know the couple, then punched her. Williams’ then-partner emerged from a house and attempted to calm him down too but he punched her in the face as well and she fell backwards. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Williams was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment but was verbally abusive. The situation “escalated” and he became “highly disruptive”, Mr Parry told the court.
Williams told one officer “Get your black hands off me” and “donkey kicked” another officer in the knee. He was then transported to a police station.
It emerged how at the time of the offending the defendant had been on bail for other incidents that had occurred in north Wales. Mr Parry told the court how the defendant had previously targeted a former partner in Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, leading to him being Captor sprayed by police – a type of pepper spray.
After consuming lager during a walk, Williams returned home with his then-partner and began arguing with her, Mr Parry said. Later that evening Williams went to the Royal Oak pub in Penrhyndeudraeth, then, later still, the woman woke up to find Williams “in her face”.
He then ordered her downstairs where he punched her in the face and pinned her on a sofa, the court heard. When she managed to escape outside Williams followed and put her in a headlock. She shouted for help and Williams drove off in his white Toyota.
The woman, left on the ground, ran home and called the police. The court heard she had sustained injuries to her eye, head, back and other areas. Mr Parry said a neighbour also reported the domestic incident to North Wales Police at 1am. He said he had heard a man shouting, a woman screaming and a child crying.
Officers arrested Williams at his mother’s home where Mr Parry said the defendant displayed “vile” behaviour towards the police. He positioned his mouth near one officer’s hand and said “I’ll f****** bite ya” and then kicked her in the stomach. She later said she was in “shock and disbelief” at his conduct and Captor sprayed him.
Williams then kicked a second officer in the chest before kicking a third in the leg and threatening to spit at him. The police transported Williams to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor where he threatened to burn down the third officer’s house and rape the mothers of the second and third officers.
Elen Owen, defending, said none of the injuries her client inflicted had been serious. She said Williams had suffered trauma as a young adult.
He had experienced a mental breakdown and “made himself intoxicated” to deal with his “demons”. One woman in a letter refers to him as “nice and kind”.
Judge Nicola Jones handed Williams, of Brynhyfryd campsite, a 19-month jail term for assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his former partner, and four months each for the three assaults on emergency workers – the police officers – to run concurrently and to be suspended for two years.
For the south Wales offences, Williams received five-month suspended terms of imprisonment for common assaults against the couple and his then partner, all to run concurrently to the north Wales offences.
He also admitted racially aggravated harassment against one officer for which he was handed five months’ imprisonment for that offence which will also be concurrent and suspended.
Following a request by one victim the judge imposed a three-year restraining order to protect her against the defendant. Williams was also ordered to undertake rehabilitation work or face immediate imprisonment.
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