Bridgend trio jailed after attacking man with metal pole, baseball bat and walking stick

Ryan Ford, 34, Sarah Nicholls, 41, and Ryan Wallens, 31, were each jailed for one year and three months after admitting affray at Cardiff Crown Court.

All three changed their pleas to guilty at the hearing on Thursday January 8.

The incident happened on July 24, 2025, when the trio were seen walking towards an address in North Cornelly carrying a metal pole, a baseball bat and a walking stick.

Footage recorded by a witness showed them striking the front of the property before launching an unprovoked attack on a man in the front garden.

Wallens was arrested shortly afterwards wearing a distinctive hoody matching the footage. Officers found a kitchen knife in his pocket, and a baseball bat and clothing were later recovered from nearby bushes.

Nicholls and Ford were located soon after at their home address, where clothing matching the footage was also seized.

DC Evans said:

“This was a brazen and targeted attack in broad daylight, this investigation involved multiple teams conducting great work to put a case together.”

“This sentence shows that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour in our communities.”

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Neath man given suspended sentence after threatening carer with knife during home visit

Tristan Phillips pulled the blade on the home care worker at his mother’s Neath Valley home on 25th July 2024, and told her to get out of the house – then spat at her when she fled in fear of her life.

Swansea Crown Court heard the 27-year-old came running down the stairs “aggressively” as the Neath Port Talbot Council support worker arrived to tend to his mother.

The situation escalated dramatically when the carer went to the kitchen to make a coffee. Phillips slapped the cup from her hand, pulled a knife from a drawer, raised it above his shoulder, and shouted: “Do you want to f***ing die?” He then ordered her to leave and spat at her as she fled.

The terrified carer contacted her manager outside the property, and police were called. Officers arrested Phillips and seized the knife along with two bags of cannabis from the kitchen counter. In his police interview, Phillips denied picking up a knife, making threats, or spitting.

In her victim impact statement read to the court, the carer said she couldn’t stop thinking about the incident. She had installed CCTV at her own home hoping it would help her feel safer and sleep better, but it hadn’t worked. The experience had affected her work and made her anxious about attending people’s homes.

Phillips, of Empire Avenue, Blaengwrach, Neath Valley, had pleaded guilty to affray and common assault.

His defence counsel told the court that “for whatever reason” the relationship between Phillips and the carer had broken down, leading to a complaint to the council. A different staff member had been assigned to visit, but a staff shortage on the day in question meant the original carer turned up unexpectedly, shocking his client.

The court heard that Phillips had been a carer to his mother from an early age and was “overly-protective” of her. He wished he could “turn the clock back”. Following the knife incident, the council withdrew all home care support. The court also learned that Phillips’s mother has since passed away.

Judge Huw Rees acknowledged that Phillips had cared for his mother for many years and had “put her needs above yours”. However, he said the defendant’s over-protectiveness on that day led to “a very serious overreaction” which left the carer fearing for her life.

With a one-fifth discount for his guilty plea, Phillips was sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for 18 months. He must complete a rehabilitation course and mental health treatment requirement, plus 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Judge Rees warned him: “You have escaped going to prison by a hair’s breadth”.

Swansea couple sentenced after ‘disgraceful’ street assault

Olivia Lewis and her then-partner, Patrick McGinn, were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after attacking their victim outside the NCP car park in The Kingsway at 4.25am on 10 February last year.

The court heard Lewis was seen pushing the man before McGinn took him to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the head. Lewis then joined in, continuously kicking the victim to the head before stamping on his groin multiple times.

The pair then simply walked away towards the Potter’s Wheel roundabout, leaving their victim on the floor. Police tracked them down using CCTV.

While on bail for the attack, McGinn launched another serious assault in May later in the year. After meeting a man in St Helen’s Road in the early hours at a drug-fueled flat in Matthew Street, Dyfatty, where McGinn delivered a series of blows to the victim’s head with an object during a disturbance.

The injured man fled, leaving a trail of blood behind him. A member of the public called the police after seeing the bleeding man on the street.

Lewis, 23, of Llanyrnewydd, Penclawdd, Gower, pleaded guilty to affray and has no previous convictions. McGinn, 35, formerly of Mount Pleasant, Gowerton, but now of Webb Place, Port Talbot, pleaded guilty to affray, possession of heroin, and unlawful wounding. He has 42 previous convictions for 90 offences.

James Hartson, defending Lewis, said her actions were “impulsive” and out of character, done in response to a grievance she believed had taken place.

He described the relationship between Lewis and McGinn as “a union centred around their sharing of drugs” and said McGinn had been a “completely malign influence” on his client.

Ieuan Rees, defending McGinn, acknowledged his client had a “bad record” but noted his last conviction for violence was in 2015, with most convictions being acquisitive in nature to sustain his drug habit. The Dyfatty assault happened shortly after McGinn’s father’s death, when he was in a bad place.

Addressing Lewis, Judge Huw Lewis said what she did should be to her eternal shame. He told her:

“You have come as close as close can be to going to prison. You can count yourself lucky.”

Lewis received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with a one-quarter discount for her guilty plea. She must complete a rehabilitation course, a mental health treatment requirement, and 180 hours of unpaid work.

McGinn was sentenced to 13 months for affray (with a one-quarter discount) and 38 months for wounding (with a 10% discount for his plea entered on the day of trial), to run consecutively, making a total sentence of 51 months. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

Three arrested after teenager hospitalised in Plasmarl

The incident that occurred in Mysydd Road, Plasmarl, in Swansea at around 9.45 pm on Wednesday, December 31, has been described by South Wales Police as part of a series of incidents of disorder involving one group of young men.

The 17-year-old boy from Clase was taken to hospital with injuries described as “very serious”. The force has said his family is currently being supported by specialist officers after the attack. Four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of affray.

These include a 17-year-old boy from Cwmrhydyceirw, Swansea, an 18-year-old man from Morriston, Swansea, a 17-year-old boy from Clase and a 17-year-old boy from Treboeth. 

A spokesman for South Wales Police said:

“Officers attended Mysydd Road, Plasmarl, Swansea, at around 9:45 pm yesterday (Wednesday, December 31) following a report of a disturbance.

“A 17-year-old boy from Clase, Swansea, has been taken to hospital with very serious injuries.

“His family is being supported by specially trained officers.

“Four others – a 17-year-old boy from Cwmrhydyceirw, Swansea, an 18-year-old man from Morriston, Swansea, a 17-year-old boy from Clase, and a 17-year-old boy from Treboeth have been arrested on suspicion of affray in connection with this incident.”

Speaking on the incident Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said: 

“This is a very disturbing incident, spreading disorder at a time when people should be able to celebrate in peace. 

“I’m grateful to the emergency workers who responded at the scene and are now working hard to look after a young man with very serious injuries. My heartfelt thoughts go out to his family at this incredibly painful time. 

“I would urge anyone with information about this incident to speak to the police as soon as they can.”

Detective Inspector Katherine Barry added:

“This was a series of incidents of disorder involving one group of young men.

“We are aware that posts about this incident have been shared widely on social media.

“Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact South Wales Police on 101 quoting occurrence 2500412140.”

[Lead image: Google Street View]

Swansea man jailed after metal pole attack

Street violence ends in two-year sentence

Lewis Dight, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years in a young offenders’ institution after admitting a string of violent offences committed on October 19.

The incident began when Dight struck another man with a metal pole, causing a gash to the top of the victim’s head. He then went to the victim’s home, hurled a brick through the window, and brandished a knife in the street.

Dight pleaded guilty to affray, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and threatening a person with a blade in a public place.

Police condemn “thuggish behaviour”

Detective Inspector Danielle Thorne said:

“Lewis Dight very stupidly thought that waving a knife around in public in order to threaten another man made him look tough. Instead, this thuggish behaviour made him look like he needed to be brought before a judge.

We hope that the victim makes a full recovery, and we hope that Lewis Dight takes his time in a youth offenders’ institution to think about his actions and change his ways before his release.”

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Two men in hospital and three arrested after disturbance on St Helen’s Road

South Wales Police said they were called to St Helen’s Road, Sandfields, at around 10.15pm (24 September).

Arrests

A 25‑year‑old man from Sandfields, a 23‑year‑old man from Waun Wen, and a 19‑year‑old man from Barry have all been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and affray. They remain in custody.

Victims

Two men were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Police say both are in a stable condition.

Scene and disruption

A police cordon remained in place on Thursday morning, with officers warning of traffic disruption. The closure affects the first section of Richardson Street, where it meets St Helen’s Road, and extends around the pavement outside Madbuns Milkshakes and Mocktails.

Police statement

A South Wales Police spokesperson said:

“An investigation into this incident is currently ongoing. A scene is being held in the area alongside an increased police presence which may cause traffic disruption. Please avoid the area if you can.”

Appeal

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has mobile phone or dashcam footage, is asked to contact police quoting reference 2500307012.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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