A Newport man who followed a 59-year-old disabled woman along a Cwmbran road, then punched her in the head and took her mobile phone, has been jailed for five years and nine months.
Ryan Whitehead, 32, of Clarence Place, admitted robbery and dangerous driving over the incident. It happened at around 12.30pm on Friday 18 July 2025.
He has also been banned from the roads for six and a half years.
What he admitted
- Robbery
- Dangerous driving
Trouble on St David’s Road
The court heard the woman was driving on St David’s Road in Cwmbran with Whitehead behind her at the wheel of an Audi A3.
Prosecutor James Evans said the defendant “took issue” with her. His driving was described as “aggressive”. He drew right up to her bumper and tried, without success, to undertake her.
She told him through her open window that she was going to the police station, and then drove to Cwmbran police station. She did not report him and left again a few minutes later.
The attack at the roundabout
Whitehead had not gone far. He was waiting at a roundabout close by and pulled out in front of her car.
He got out and punched her on her right temple. He then leaned into her vehicle and took her mobile phone.
After her visit to the police station, he shouted at her: “You’re not so f clever now you sg”
A woman who was with Whitehead, and who has not been identified, screamed at the victim and “rummaged” through her shopping.
In her own words
The victim came to court and read her impact statement aloud herself.
She said: “I had never seen him before in my life.
“I’ve no idea what made him so angry – I just can’t work it out.
“There was a woman with him who was also screaming at me.
“The whole incident was completely unprovoked.”
She added: “Those few moments have completely changed the way I live my life.
“I play things over and over in my head.
“It has affected my relationship with my husband and children.
“I didn’t deserve what happened to me.
“I genuinely feel he’s dangerous – I was no threat to him.”
His record
Whitehead has 22 previous convictions covering 49 offences. They include a robbery for which he served a 38-month sentence at a young offender institution, and he has been convicted of dangerous driving before.
Mitigation
Kevin Seal, defending, told the court his client had shown “remorse” for his actions.
Sentencing
Judge Vanessa Francis told Whitehead: “This has caused an innocent member of the public lasting harm.
“It was a prolonged campaign of intimidation.”
- Five years and nine months in prison
- Disqualified from driving for six years and six months
- Must pass an extended driving test before he can drive again
- Ordered to pay a surcharge after his release from prison
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