Port Talbot man jailed for bar attack as witnesses stayed silent

A Port Talbot man who knocked out a victim with a single punch in a crowded bar – leaving him with a bleed on the brain and permanent facial deformity – has been jailed after no witnesses would help police identify him.

Richard Clement, 37, launched the assault on January 8 last year at Jimmy’s Bar on Station Road in Port Talbot town centre.

The attack

The victim had been socialising in pubs across the town before ending up at the venue. Whilst standing alone at the bar, Clement approached and delivered “one forceful blow” to his head without provocation.

The strike sent the man crashing to the floor unconscious. He had no memory of the assault itself but recalled being woken by bar security staff.

Extent of injuries

The victim initially attended Neath Port Talbot Hospital but was directed to Morriston Hospital’s A&E due to the severity of his injuries. After being told of the lengthy waiting time, he travelled to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend instead.

Doctors discovered bleeding on his brain alongside fractures to his eye socket, cheek and nose, plus severe facial bruising and swelling. His nose was left permanently deformed.

In a victim impact statement read to Swansea Crown Court, the man said he was awaiting further nasal surgery and now felt reluctant to leave his house, only venturing out for work or to visit his mother by taxi.

Code of silence

Prosecutor Matt Murphy told the court that despite the bar being full of people, no one came forward to police with the attacker’s name. The victim himself was given Clement’s identity by others in the bar.

Judge Geraint Walters said it was a “sign of the times” that witnesses would stand by whilst someone suffered a brain bleed but then adopt a “saw nothing, heard nothing, and will say nothing” attitude rather than assisting police.

Criminal history

Clement, of Gladys Street, Port Talbot, has previous convictions including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, being drunk and disorderly, GBH, common assault and criminal damage.

In 2021, he received 30 months in prison for possession of cocaine with intent to supply after being caught selling drugs from his car in Port Talbot during the afternoon.

Most recently in May 2025, Clement was sentenced to two years for engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour and ABH against a former partner – with a judge branding him a “cowardly bully” on that occasion.

Late charges

Two weeks after carrying out the bar attack and before being identified, Clement was remanded in custody over the controlling and coercive behaviour matter.

He wasn’t charged with the pub assault until December 11 last year via postal requisition – just two weeks before his scheduled release from the 2025 sentence.

Mitigation

Defence barrister Hannah George told the court Clement had turned to drugs and alcohol to “supress his feelings” after discovering his father’s body, with substance misuse underlying much of his offending.

She said he faced a stark choice about his future direction and had spent his time in prison constructively completing courses. The victim had been known to Clement, who was “truly sorry” for his actions.

Sentencing

Judge Walters highlighted the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption leading to someone being “punch happy when in drink” and the risks of one-punch incidents.

He told Clement: “Those who throw their weight around by punching someone hard as you did run the serious risk that your luck will run out and you will end up killing someone – then your sentencing will be running into double figures. All it takes is one punch. Trust me, there are a lot of people paying the price for it.”

Clement pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and received 18 months in prison with a one-quarter discount for his plea. He’ll serve up to half the sentence in custody before release on licence.

A 10-year restraining order was imposed banning him from contacting his victim.