A 48-year-old man accused of repeatedly striking a frail neighbour’s head against the ground in a “horrendous and cowardly” attack, which had life-changing consequences, has been jailed for more than 11 years.

Craig Bailey, of Garth Vaughan, Guilsfield, admitted wounding Thomas Gibson, 66, with intent on the afternoon of September 8.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard the victim, who walked with a stick, had memory problems and didn’t recall much about the assault. He’d been flown by an air ambulance helicopter to an acute medical unit at the Royal Stoke Hospital after being unconscious with a bleed on the brain.

Judge Timothy Petts said a stroke was probably linked to the “horrendous and cowardly” attack.

At a hearing today he jailed Bailey for 11 years and three months, and imposed a restraining order to last indefinitely.

County Times:

Prosecutor James Coutts said Bailey and Mr Gibson had been neighbours at a block of flats. Other neighbours witnessed what happened. Earlier that day Mr Gibson had reported to the police that his van’s wing mirror had been broken by Bailey and he left a note for the defendant.

Counsel said neighbours across the road heard a man shouting for help. When they looked outside they saw Bailey sitting on top of Mr Gibson, pinning him down.

Mr Gibson’s head was struck on the ground two or three times and punches were thrown.

Mr Coutts said Bailey had then dragged Mr Gibson inside the victim’s flat by his clothing. Witnesses called police who were told by bloodied Bailey: "I have killed him.”

At the end of January Mr Gibson was still a patient at Newtown Hospital, awaiting a social services assessment, the prosecutor added.

Matthew Curtis, defending, said Bailey had expressed remorse about what he did.

“It’s a tragic way for the victim to come towards the latter part of his life,” the barrister remarked.