Two people who attacked a man on St Helen’s Road in Swansea, leaving him with a deep cut to his neck and lasting nerve damage, have been locked up at Swansea Crown Court.
Craig Godfrey, 36, of Furnace Way, Swansea, was handed an extended sentence of 10 years by Judge Geraint Walters, four years of which will be an extended licence period. Michaela Nicholls, 34, of Pen Y Bryn, Ystradgynlais, whose ex-partner was the man targeted, was jailed for five-and-a-half years.
A third defendant, Gary Robertson, 51, of Princess of Wales Court, Swansea, was sent to prison for three years over a burglary he committed with Nicholls less than three weeks after the attack.
What they admitted
Godfrey pleaded guilty to:
- Wounding with intent
- Possession of a knife
Nicholls admitted:
- Wounding with intent
- Possession of an offensive weapon
- Burglary
- Theft from a vehicle
- Three counts of attempted burglary
Robertson admitted:
- Burglary
- Theft from a vehicle
- Three counts of attempted burglary
Confrontation outside the YMCA
Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court the victim, who works for himself as a painter and decorator, saw Nicholls and Godfrey outside the YMCA building on St Helen’s Road shortly after 6am on August 13 and walked over to them.
Nicholls was holding a dog chain and “brandishing” it close to her ex-partner’s face. Godfrey had a knife concealed behind his back.
Sensing he was in danger, the victim threw the first punch, striking Godfrey.
Nicholls then spurred Godfrey on, shouting: “Go on, get him. Get him. You can have him.”
The injury
At first the victim believed he had only been punched in the neck. Moments later he realised he was losing a lot of blood.
Godfrey and Nicholls ran off. By the time officers reached the scene, paramedics were already treating the injured man.
He needed treatment for a laceration to his neck measuring six to seven centimetres. The court heard nerve damage has left him with no feeling in the left side of his face.
Family woken by their dog
The second case dates from the early hours of September 1. Nicholls and Robertson had been trying to get into a number of homes on Midland Road from around 5.40am, before breaking into a house on Midland Place shortly before 5.50am while the family who lived there were asleep.
A man inside was woken by the family dog and could hear a woman’s voice on the ground floor. He then noticed his car door was open and saw people running off.
His wallet and toolbox had gone, along with his wife’s purse. Because the car keys were still sitting in the kitchen, it was clear the intruders had broken into the house and unlocked the vehicle from indoors.
Found in a bush
Not long afterwards, police found Nicholls and Robertson hiding in a bush near Tesco and arrested them.
Nicholls first gave officers a false name before admitting who she really was. Officers also matched footprints left on the windowsill to her shoes.
In mitigation
David Singh, representing Nicholls, told the court: “Her memory of [the incidents] is almost non-existent due to the state of inebriation she was in.”
He said she had slipped back into alcohol abuse earlier in the year but was now taking steps in prison to deal with her problems.
Stuart John, for Godfrey, said:
“The defendant was intoxicated at the time.
“He says that his recollection of the incident is affected quite dramatically.”
Sarah John, representing Robertson, said he had taken drugs and drunk alcohol before the burglary, despite having been sober for the previous three years. She told the court he was working on his drink and drug use behind bars and was “determined” never to relapse again.
Sentencing
As he passed sentence, Judge Walters warned: “Carry knives and expect little mercy from the court.”
Godfrey received the extended sentence of 10 years, including four years on extended licence. Nicholls was jailed for five-and-a-half years and Robertson for three years.
Police response
After the hearing, Detective Inspector Thomas Richardson, of South Wales Police, said:
“This was a shocking attack which took place on a summer morning, during which lots of people would have been starting their work days on St Helen’s Road.
“It is incredibly fortunate that the victim was not killed.
“These heavy sentences are no less than both of them deserve.”
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