A grandfather was attacked and repeatedly hit over the head with a pickaxe handle by a man who had earlier threatened his wife. He didn’t stop the attack until neighbours intervened and said: “He’s probably going to die.”
Richard Cook, 45, unleashed a “frenzied” assault on Robert Price in the front garden of his home in Gilwern, Monmouthshire, on May 23 last year. The defendant had argued with the victim’s wife earlier that day after he shouted at their grandchildren who were playing in the garden.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard Cook had told Mr Price’s wife “I’ll have you” and “You’re lucky children are about as I wouldn’t be so nice”. Later that evening, Mr Price was at home alone and watching television when he noticed the garage light was on. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.
As he entered the garage, he saw a shadow in the distance and heard someone say “I am going to f****** kill you”. Mr Price responded by saying “Who the f** are you”, and the defendant replied: “You know who I am.” The victim then realised it was the person who had earlier threatened his wife, and said: “You’re not going to threaten my wife today.”
Cook started screaming at Mr Price and threatened to kill him. The victim went to go into his house, but when he looked back he saw the defendant approaching him while in possession of a pickaxe handle he had retrieved from the garden.
He swung the handle at Mr Price and hit him to the right arm with a forceful blow which knocked the victim to the ground. Cook then struck the victim to the head around 10 times while shouting “Have you had enough?”. Mr Price began to lose consciousness and the defendant attempted to ram the handle down his throat.
Neighbours heard the assault and came out to intervene, but Cook told them “I am going to kill him”, then said: “He’s probably going to die.” Mr Price was taken into a neighbour’s home and was badly injured, with his face, head and chest covered in blood and a gash to the back of his head.
The victim was driven to hospital by his daughter and received treatment for a wound to the back of his head, a 7cm wound to the right side of his head, a Y shaped wound to the side of his head, injuries to his right shoulder, right forearm, and a bruised abdomen. His head injuries had to be glued and stitched up.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Price said: “I’m having flashbacks, dreams and panic attacks which take some minutes to recover from. I have permanent headaches and a stiff shoulder. it’s had a lasting impact on my family, particularly my wife and my grandchildren who are no longer able to stay at my home. It’s affected my son who blames himself for not being there to protect me.”
Cook, of Broadmead, Gilwern, was arrested and taken to hospital for an injury to his ankle. He was later interviewed and claimed he was walking home from his parents house and the next thing he remembered was waking up on the floor. The defendant later pleaded guilty to a section 18 wounding offence and wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. The court heard he has previous convictions for possession of cannabis and dangerous driving, which related to an incident involving a fatality.
In mitigation, John Ryan said his client was provoked to some degree after Mr Price made a comment about “killing that boy from Crickhowell”. He played footage to the court of the incident, in which the victim could be heard making the comment. The barrister said that “triggered an uncharacteristic response” from the defendant.
Recorder John Philpotts sentenced Cook to four years and three months imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.
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