Newport man jailed for robbing cyclist over ‘hello’ greeting

A 21-year-old homeless man has been jailed for 27 months after robbing a 69-year-old cyclist of his bike – simply for saying “hello” to him.

Kade Wren was sitting on a bench with a friend at Newport waterfront near the Blaina Wharf pub at around 1pm on 10th June when the cyclist rode past and greeted them.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Wren took exception to the friendly greeting, set off after the cyclist, and caught up with him. He then “threatened to knife” the victim and pushed him, causing him to stumble backwards, before taking his bike and riding away.

The cyclist walked to Newport central police station to report the incident. Police later found Wren hiding in his partner’s bed at a hostel in the city centre. He initially denied all knowledge and even suggested another person could have been responsible.

In a statement to the court, the victim said: “I felt like my life was over. I was terrified. I lost sleep in the first few days as I was very nervous. I felt vulnerable, incapacitated, and humiliated. I am constantly wary and nervous now.”

Defence lawyer Gareth Williams told the court his client acknowledged his behaviour was “totally unacceptable”. He said: “He was sitting on a bench with his friend and something was said. Clearly it does not justify his response. He responded in the way described by the prosecution and he knows he should not have done that and he regrets it. He admits he went way over the top. He knows he’ll receive a custodial sentence.”

The court heard that Wren had “suffered significant setbacks in his life” and had to be “weaned off heroin as a baby”. Judge Eugene Egan, sentencing from HMP Cardiff via video link, told Wren: “What a terrible start you had in life. The pre-sentence report makes for some of the most upsetting reading I’ve done for some time.”

Wren, who has three previous convictions for 10 offences, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. He will also have to pay a victim surcharge within six months of his release.