Nightclub toilet attackers jailed for assault in Aberystwyth

Two men who beat up a stranger in the toilets of an Aberystwyth nightclub “for no reason” have been jailed.

Ellis McGuinness, 30, and David Lloyd, 33, left their victim bruised and bleeding after setting upon him in a cubicle at the Academy club in the early hours of 19 February this year. Between them, the pair have more than 100 previous offences on their records.

Swansea Crown Court heard the victim was in a cubicle when he heard people arguing outside. The next thing he knew, McGuinness and Lloyd – both strangers to him – entered and began punching him multiple times. He was left battered, bruised and bleeding, bent over the toilet.

In an impact statement read to the court, the victim said he was struggling to deal with what happened and had been left feeling anxious, suffering with low moods and difficulty sleeping. He said the incident had impacted his studies.

Lloyd was arrested at the scene, whilst McGuinness fled and was later identified and arrested on 5 April. Both were released on bail.

However, whilst still on bail on 12 April, Lloyd armed himself with a knife and confronted a family walking home after a christening service in Aberystwyth. The court heard he “charged” at the family near the town’s Premier Inn hotel and made threats while brandishing the weapon. The family later said the incident had “ruined” what should have been a special day.

McGuinness, of Bridge Street, Aberystwyth, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has 35 previous convictions for 55 offences and was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the toilet assault, which was activated following his arrest.

Lloyd, of Cambrian Street, Aberystwyth, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, and making threats with a bladed article. He has 33 previous convictions for 59 offences, including offences of violence.

Jon Tarrant, representing McGuinness, said in a letter his client accepted his life had “spiralled out of control” and offered his remorse and apologies for what had been “a very stupid alcohol-induced episode”. He said the defendant had been spending his time in custody “constructively”.

Emily Bennett, representing Lloyd, said her client “makes no excuses for his unacceptable behaviour”. She said after a “troubled upbringing” the defendant had fallen in with the “wrong crowd”, and alcohol was clearly an issue in his life which needed to be addressed. Lloyd was working with alcohol and drug counsellors whilst on remand, and wants to find employment in the construction sector when released.

Judge Catherine Richards said “for no reason” the defendants had launched a “cowardly and mindless” attack on their victim whilst intoxicated. She said Lloyd had then gone on to commit further offences whilst on bail, but accepted both defendants were remorseful for their actions.

With discounts for their guilty pleas, McGuinness was sentenced to 20 months in prison and Lloyd to 44 months. The defendants will serve no more than half the sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.