Three jailed after filmed weapon attack in Bridgend

⚖️ A violent armed attack captured on camera has led to three people from Bridgend being handed prison sentences totalling nearly four years.

Ryan Ford, aged 34, Sarah Nicholls, 41, and Ryan Wallens, 31, all appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, January 8, where they each admitted affray after initially denying the charges. The trio were each sentenced to one year and three months behind bars.

The court heard how the three defendants launched a shocking assault in North Cornelly last summer, arming themselves with metal poles, a walking stick, and a baseball bat before descending on a residential property in broad daylight on July 24, 2025.

A witness filmed the entire incident, with footage showing the group approaching the address wielding their weapons. The video captured them striking the poles against the property before launching an unprovoked attack on a man who was in the front garden.

During the assault, Wallens brandished a baseball bat, Ford carried a metal pole, and Nicholls wielded a walking stick.

Officers quickly tracked down Wallens shortly after the attack, finding him wearing a distinctive dye hoody that matched clothing seen in the footage. When searched, police discovered a kitchen knife concealed in his pocket. Further investigation at the arrest location uncovered a baseball bat and clothing items that had been thrown into nearby bushes.

Ford and Nicholls were subsequently located at their home address, where officers recovered clothing matching that seen in the footage.

DC Evans commented on the case: “This was a brazen and targeted attack in broad daylight, this investigation involved multiple teams conducting great work to put a case together. This sentence shows that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour in our communities.”