Port Talbot Man Jailed for Axe Attack Over Noise Complaint

A Port Talbot man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after taking an axe to his neighbour’s flat door and threatening to kill him following a noise complaint. 🏠⚖️

Dean Williams, 57, of Moorland Road, Sandfields, smashed the glass panel of his upstairs neighbour’s front door with an axe after learning a complaint had been made about loud music from his flat.

Swansea Crown Court heard there had been ongoing issues about noise coming from Williams’ property. On the night of 21st April, the victim had been unable to sleep due to the volume of music and made a complaint the following day.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter told the court that on the evening of 22nd April, Williams returned home and seemed to have learned about the complaint. The defendant was heard shouting “Who? Him upstairs? I’ll kill him” before storming upstairs.

The victim heard a “loud smashing noise” from his front door and saw Williams standing in the hallway holding an axe, shouting “Come out here! I’ll kill you!”

When police arrived, they found Williams at his flat still holding the axe and “appeared to be under the influence of something.”

In his impact statement, the victim said: “Even before the incident he had been terrified that something would happen and he had been just waiting for it. When Griffiths smashed his door and threatened him he believed his neighbour was going to attack him and maybe even kill him with the axe.”

The damage to the Tai Tarian housing association flat was estimated at £400-£500.

Williams, who has 19 previous convictions for 32 offences including battery and possession of a bladed article, pleaded guilty to threatening with a bladed article and criminal damage.

Defence solicitor Stuart John said Williams had “little or no recollection” of the events but acknowledged there had been “ongoing issues about noise.” He said excessive alcohol consumption had characterised his client’s life.

Judge Catherine Richards said given Williams’ past convictions and the failure of previous court orders, there was “no realistic prospect of rehabilitation at the current time.”

Williams will serve 40% of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.