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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Philip Dewey

The moment a mum's 50th birthday erupts into violence as people come to blows outside rugby club

This is the moment a thug placed a man in a headlock at a rugby club party before knocking him unconscious with a punch. The shocking assaults were caught on CCTV and left the victim with serious injuries.

Tyler O'Connell, 29, wounded Dean Lock at Barry Rugby Club on February 29, 2020, after an altercation broke out in the foyer. The defendant was seen walking out of the club but went back in and involved himself in the melee before placing Mr Lock in a headlock, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Without provocation, O'Connell punched Mr Lock who fell to the floor unconscious and remained out cold on the floor as members of the party walked past. But while unconscious on the floor, Caine Wells, 30, walked up to Mr Lock and stamped on his leg, causing the leg to break.

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Mr Lock was taken to hospital and spent four days receiving treatment before being discharged. Metal rods were inserted into the leg and he also suffered a broken nose and black eyes.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Lock said the assault had a big impact on his life and described Wells "doing a proper number on me". He added: "He's ruined my life and I have to walk using crutches. I am left with scars for life, nine scars, which has affected me mentally.

Tyler O'Connell, 29, punched Dean Lock at Barry rugby club and knocked him unconscious (South Wales Police)

"I am extremely anxious since being assaulted, I'm afraid to bump into them and I'm not able to move to Barry. I'm not able to sleep well and I am in constant pain and I'm unable to take painkillers because of addiction issues. I feel scared to go out." The victim said he was in "extreme and constant pain" and can't walk 100 metres.

O'Connell, of Holton Road, Barry, and Wells, of Buttrills Walk, Barry, were arrested but answered no comment in interview. O'Connell later pleaded guilty to a section 18 wounding and affray, while Wells pleaded guilty to a section 20 wounding.

Initially addressing O'Connell, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "There was no need for you to become involved in this at all. Instead of standing back you joined that scene of disorder without any hesitation and behaved disgracefully. It took a considerable amount of time to calm you down and after that had calmed down outside the premises, without provocation you struck Mr Lock so hard in the face he went straight to the floor and fractured his nose."

Caine Wells, 30, stamped on the leg of Dean Lock at Barry rugby club (South Wales Police)

"You Caine Wells came down upon Mr Lock when he was prone and unconscious on the floor and for some reason, whatever reason was inexcusable, you stamped down once and hard on his leg causing what can only be described as terrible injuries."

O'Connell was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and Wells was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment. Both were made subject to a restraining order indefinitely.

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