Teen jailed for ‘mini war’ violence spree in Barry

A teenage boy who embarked on a two-year spree of violence and threats in Barry has been sentenced to a young offender institution.

Keira Richards, 18, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to 14 offences including making threats to kill, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault of an emergency worker, harassment and criminal damage.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Richards confessed to a psychiatrist that he “takes comfort from hurting people”.

On 6th August 2024, Richards threatened to kill a woman with a shard of glass outside her Barry home. Prosecutor Mari Watkins told the court he blamed the couple for him being locked up by police for a few days.

Richards wrote “I will kill you” in blackberry juice on their window before confronting them outside. Miss Watkins said: “After the wife went into their house, the defendant told her husband: I’m going to kill your wife – get her out here!

“He had a shard of glass and he said he was going to slit her throat.

“The defendant told him: That’s a nice car. He then scratched his initials into the vehicle.”

Richards also assaulted five police officers, including spitting at one and kicking another in the groin, attacked a victim at a house party in Rhoose by kicking her, and sent threatening messages online.

His offences were committed between 2023 and 2025 when he was aged 16 and 18. Richards, who has a personality disorder, has spent 256 days remanded in custody.

Defence barrister Leah Pollard asked the court to consider her client’s difficult upbringing and the lengthy delay in bringing the case to court, adding: “He does want to turn his life around.”

Judge Simon Mills told Richards he had started “a mini war with society” and sentenced him to two years in a young offender institution. With time already served, he should be released from custody soon.