A NEWTOWN dad has been spared an immediate prison sentence, despite admitting two “completely unprovoked” attacks on separate victims in separate incidents last year.

Owen Williams, 21, admitted leaving Thomas Jarman unconscious after an attack in May 2022, and leaving Christopher Clark with blood dripping from his face in September.

Williams, who was described as “a good person with a good heart”, was jailed for a year by magistrates on Tuesday, January 10, but they agreed to suspend the custodial term for 2 years.

Father-of-two Williams, of Ffordd Croesawdy, admitted actual bodily harm against Mr Clark in December, and on Tuesday admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Jarman. He also admitted breaching a community order handed to him in February 2022 for offences relating to various weapons found at his property by failing to attend unpaid work appointments.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said the assault on Mr Jarman occurred during a night out at the Steam Mill on May 14.

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“Thomas Jarman was waiting for friends near the exit," she said. "He was leaning on a wall when the defendant speaks briefly to him. He then steps back, with CCTV showing him looking around, then punches him, leaving Mr Jarman unconscious for several minutes.

“He went to hospital but left before being seen by doctor. He then went a while later and had suffered bruising to his face."

After fleeing through the back door, Williams was arrested and told police he had been sticking up for a friend.

The assault on Mr Clark – a former work colleague – occurred on September 9 after the victim had arranged to meet up with Joe Owen, a friend of the defendant, after a night out in Newtown.

“There was a heated argument. Mr Clark went to grab Joe Owen, but was punched by the defendant and then kicked to the back," Ms Tench said.

“He remembered blood dripping from his face when he woke up. He suffered soreness to his ribs and bruising to his face."

Williams said he did not know what the incident was about, but fell out with Mr Clark over a work dispute and "lost it", punching him twice and kicking him once.

In a victim impact statement read by Mrs Tench, Mr Clark said he had been left with physical problems, including having an operation on his eye and missing three weeks of work.”

A statement from Mr Jarman said he had been left in fear of Williams coming to his flat to attack him again.

Rob Hanratty, the factory worker, said: “Mr Williams, on both occasions, has intervened in incidents that had nothing to do with him."

Mr Hanratty read out several references on behalf of Williams, including from his mother, who attended court with him, and was described as his “main source of support but also his main critic”.

Mr Hanratty also referenced a letter from his employer, Phillip Duncan, who said: “I don’t condone his behaviour but feel he is a good person with a good heart.”

Probation officer Julian Davies added: “He says he was very drunk and unable to recall the May incident. He feels terrible about it.

"At the time he says he would drink heavily at weekends with friends, but he has cut down his alcohol use as he recognises he gets violent when drinking.

“He was a daily cannabis user, he uses it to self-medicate for ADHD. Now he has reduced this to one spliff a day to help him sleep."

For the assaults Williams was given concurrent 12-month prison sentences, suspended for 24 months, and five concurrent one-month jail terms for the probation breaches.

He must pay both Mr Clark and Mr Jarman £500 compensation, a £154 surcharge, £85 for each case's costs, and £60 to the probation service for the breach. He received a new community order and must wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 120 days.

Chairman of the bench Nick Powell told him: “Step out of line again and you can only really expect to be taken into custody.”