Henllan man admits vicious attack

Jan 21 2009 by Justine Bailey, Denbigh Visitor

A HENLLAN man who admitted an attack on another man outside the village pub – fracturing his orbital bone and causing double vision – received a suspended prison sentence on Friday.

Jason Owens, 36, of Meifod Road, Henllan, had denied a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm but changed his plea on an earlier occasion.

Julie McNeill, prosecuting, told how complainant Raymond Bartley was standing outside the public house one evening in May and saw the defendant sitting in his vehicle in the pub car park.

The two men had known each other around the village for about four years.

“On this occasion the defendant is described as looking angry by Mr Bartley who approached the vehicle and in a joking manner asked him why he was looking at him in an angry fashion.

“The defendant accused the complainant of swearing at his wife a couple of days before,” said Miss McNeill.

“The complainant accepts that was the case saying that there was a problem with their dogs making a mess on the path.”

She said Owens was by now very aggressive and Mr Bartley tried to calm the situation.

Owens got out of his car and pushed Mr Bartley with both hands, causing him to stumble back.

The defendant had clenched his fists and was squaring up to Mr Bartley who feared for his safety.

“The complainant did strike the defendant once during the incident because he felt threatened, having just been pushed,” Miss McNeill explained.

But Owens replied: “You have hit me – now I can do what I want!”

With that, he punched Mr Bartley, knocking him down onto his hands and knees.

The judge, Mr Recorder Nic Parry, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said that Owens had caused a very serious injury.