Shocking, appalling and terrifying are some of the words used by judges to describe the violent offending that has happened on the streets of Cardiff.
In the last year we have covered offences that took place in the city including murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, violent disorder and sexual violence.
According to figures from the Home Office, violent crime recorded by the police in England and Wales rose by nearly 20% between September 2017 and September 2018.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "While these cases are very serious crimes, they are not everyday occurrences and all those responsible are serving lengthy prison sentences.
"Their custodial convictions are the result of professional and thorough investigations by officers and the bravery of victims and witnesses who have come forward and provided evidence.
"We have dedicated teams tackling serious violence and drug dealing in Cardiff."
These are some of the cases of violent crime in Cardiff we've covered at court in the last 12 months.
Thug smashed a taxi driver in the eye with a metal pole
The defendant: Noor Hussain, 42, from Amherst Street in Grangetown, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm but was found guilty following a trial.
Where did it happen? The incident happened on Tudor Street in Riverside, Cardiff, on the evening of May 28 last year.
What happened? Hussain struck Ali Begzada in the face with a metal pole and ruptured his eyeball, leaving him blind in one eye.
What was the impact on the victim? “I am in pain 24 hours a day,” said Mr Begzada in a statement read out at court.
The sentence: Hussain was jailed for 10 years.
What did the judge say? Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: “You have caused this man permanent disability. He did nothing to bring this upon himself.”
Abusive man chased his partner down the street and stabbed her
The defendant: Ahmed Ali, 34, from Christina Street in Butetown, admitted attempted murder.
Where did it happen? Olivia Spinks ran into Premier Store on Cornwall Street in Grangetown and tried to hold the door closed against him, but he forced his way in.
What happened? Controlling Ali tried to kill his partner by stabbing her repeatedly with a screwdriver during a “shocking” attack that left her with life-threatening injuries.
What was the impact on the victim? She was taken to the University Hospital of Wales and treated for multiple stab wounds to her head and neck.
The sentence: Judge Eleri Rees found Ali to be a dangerous offender and passed a 19-year extended sentence to protect the public. He must serve at least two thirds of the 14-year jail term before he can be considered for release, then will have a five-year extended licence period.
What did the judge say? Judge Rees described the offending as "an appalling catalogue of violence". She noted there was a “shocking” and “remorseless” continuation of the attack once Ms Spinks was on the floor.
Sex predator dragged women to the ground in chilling early-hours attacks
The defendant: Married RAF serviceman Joshua Jolly, 27, from Collwyn Street in Coedely, Tonyrefail, admitted sexual assault and assault with intent to commit a sexual offence. He also admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assault by penetration.
Where did it happen? The first incident happened in the early hours of February 11 last year after the woman had been out with friends in Cardiff city centre.
The second incident happened on October 30 last year after the victim had been to Cineworld with her brother. The third incident happened on Ninian Park Road as the victim was walking to work.
What happened? A soldier sexually assaulted three women in “terrifying” attacks as they walked alone on dark streets in Cardiff in the early hours of the morning. Jolly, who served in Afghanistan, targeted the lone victims and used violence to assault them.
What was the impact on the victims? Judge Eleri Rees said: “The psychological impact has been profound on each of these victims. There is no doubt that the impact will remain with them for a very considerable time, if not throughout their lives.”
The sentence: She found him to be a dangerous offender and passed a 22-year extended sentence.
Jolly must serve at least two-thirds of the 16-year prison sentence then have a six-year extended licence period. He must register indefinitely as a sex offender.
What did the judge say? Judge Rees said: “[This was] a terrifying ordeal for each of them representing, indeed, every woman’s worst nightmare.”
Gang of youths attacked a boy in broad daylight
The defendants: Curtis Walker, 19, from Caernarvon Way in Trowbridge, admitted violent disorder and was found guilty of attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Kane Walker, 20, from Monthermer Road in Roath, admitted violent disorder. A 17-year-old defendant admitted attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Where did it happen? The incident happened in the Gabalfa area of Cardiff at around 4.50pm on Thursday, July 4. A local resident heard “shouting and swearing” on Waterston Road. He saw a group gathered around a Ford Fiesta by the junction with Gabalfa Avenue.
What happened? A boy was attacked by a gang of youths and stabbed in broad daylight as parents collected their children from school.
The teenager was punched through a car door, before being pulled out of the vehicle, dragged along the floor, kicked repeatedly and stabbed.
The sentences: Curtis Walker was sent to a young offender institution for five years, Kane Walker for two years and four months, and the teenager for three years and nine months.
What did the judge say? Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted the assault happened in broad daylight on a public street, where parents were collecting their children from school.
Young father was stabbed in Cardiff woodland and left to die
The defendants: James Jones, 19, from Bedwas Close in St Mellons, admitted murder. John Phillips, 28, from Baird Close in Bettws, Newport, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.
Harvey Huchet, 17, from Chapel Wood in Llanedeyrn, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.
Where did it happen? Anthony Winter died on the morning of November 22 last year after being stabbed in the leg at Cath Cobb Woodlands.
What happened? Mr Winter was 32 when he was subjected to a “ferocious beating” then stabbed in woodland in Cardiff and left to die. He was murdered after getting into debt to drug dealers who lured him to a flat in Newport where they punched, kicked and stamped on him.
The sentences: Jones was sentenced to custody for life with a minimum term of 20 years. Phillips was jailed for 22 years. Huchet was locked up for 12 years.
What did the judge say? Mrs Justice Jefford said: “How Anthony Winter’s life ended was horrific and cruel."
Killer knocked a man unconscious with an unprovoked 'sickening blow'
The defendant: Robert Chambers, 30, from Craigmuir Road in Splott, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. The court heard he was locked up as a teenager for manslaughter.
Where did it happen? The incident happened outside The Cottage pub in St Mary Street on August 18 last year – the day Cardiff City played Newcastle United.
What happened? Convicted killer Chambers, who caused a man's death with a single punch, knocked an unsuspecting football fan unconscious with a "sickening blow" in a busy city street. Prosecutor Nigel Fryer described the attack as “clear gratuitous violence”.
What was the impact on the victim? Simon Walters was knocked out cold after being hit with such force he suffered whiplash in the unprovoked attack.
The victim described his tongue being “in agony” and seeing blood all over his shirt. He was treated for injuries including a wound to the back of his head, swollen jaw and cut elbow.
The sentence: The judge found Chambers to be a dangerous offender and passed an extended sentence to protect the public.
The 56-month extended sentence was made up of a 32-month jail term and a 24-month licence period. There was also an eight-year Football Banning Order.
What did the judge say? Judge David Wynn Morgan noted the attack happened on “Cardiff’s busiest street” in broad daylight with members of the public around. He told Chambers: “The court has seen graphic evidence of what you did that day."
Teen was left with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed
The defendants: Chakeel Lovell, 18, from Bromley Drive in Caerau, admitted wounding with intent. Lamahr Bourne, 18, of Hannah Street, Butetown, admitted a Section 18 offence and two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Seven other teenage defendants were involved in the incident.
Where did it happen? The stabbing happened by Chicken Haus on City Road in Cardiff at around 11.30pm on February 7.
What happened? A teenager was left with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed repeatedly during an incident involving a gang of “young thugs” on a street in Cardiff. Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: “The prosecution submit this was patently a revenge attack.”
What was the impact on the victim? The youngster, who lost a lot of blood and was left with lasting scars, was too scared to help the police for fear of being attacked again.
Mr Bennett said: "He was in a perilous state. They were clearly life-threatening injuries. He must have lost a significant quantity of blood."
The sentences: Lovell was locked up for eight years and Bourne for nine years.
What did the judge say? In his sentencing remarks, Judge Michael Fitton QC described the defendants as “young thugs” and told them their involvement in a serious incident was “dangerous” and “idiotic”.
Builder was left with permanent facial scars after an unprovoked attack
The defendant: James Webley 25, from Laleston Close in Barry, admitted unlawful wounding with intent.
Where did it happen? The incident happened on Greyfriars Road just after 11pm on January 1.
Lewys Hopkins was enjoying a night out with friends from work and they were walking from Yates bar to Live Lounge when the attack happened.
What happened? A builder was left with permanent scarring on his face after he had a glass smashed over his head during a completely unprovoked attack.
Mr Hopkins was enjoying a night out with a group of friends in Cardiff city centre when Webley struck him out of the blue, leaving him needing 40 stitches.
What was the impact on the victim? “I feel very upset about my injuries,” said Mr Hopkins in a statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court. “I will now have a large scar on my face for the rest of my life and I’m very conscious about that.”
The sentence: Webley was jailed for four and a half years.
What did the judge say? Judge Eleri Rees said: “He will bear that scar to remind him of this incident for the rest of his life.”
20-year-old man died after being stabbed in a vicious knife attack
The defendants: Daniel Roberts 20, who did not have a permanent address, initially denied murder, but changed his plea part-way through the trial.
Christopher Griffiths, 30, from Newport Road in Roath, was found guilty of murder. Awez Jamshaid, 19, from Moore Close in Ely, was found guilty of murder. Saif Shahzad, 19, from Fidlas Road in Cyncoed, was found guilty of manslaughter.
Where did it happen? The incident happened on Holmesdale Street and Corporation Road in Grangetown just before 2am on July 23 last year.
What happened? Malaciah Thomas was attacked during the early hours of the morning and died at the scene after suffering multiple stab wounds.
A post-mortem examination found 13 stab wounds across his back, right arm, buttock, thigh, face and trunk.
What was the impact of his death? In a victim impact statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court, his sister Ashanti Thomas said: “All we can say about those who took Malaciah’s life is that they are cowards.”
The sentences: Roberts was sentenced to custody for life with a minimum term of 25 years. Griffiths was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years. Jamshaid was sentenced to custody for life with a minimum term of 11 years.
Shahzad was sentenced to seven years and six months in a young offender institution.
Homeless man sleeping in an underpass was attacked with a glass bottle
The defendant: Gareth Bevan 36, who did not have a fixed address, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, in breach of a suspended sentence.
Where did it happen? The incident happened in the underpass between Kingsway and Museum Avenue just after 7am on Monday, July 15.
What happened? A homeless man who was sleeping in an underpass in Cardiff city centre suffered a head wound after being attacked with a glass bottle.
Ian Fairlamb was taken to hospital by the police after Bevan smashed a Jack Daniel’s bottle over his head and stamped on him while he was on the floor.
What did the prosecutor say? Prosecutor David Pugh said: “He could immediately feel blood running down his face.”
What was the impact on the victim? Mr Fairlamb was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where the wound to his forehead was glued and treated with steri-strips.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted there was no victim personal statement, so she could not know whether the attack caused permanent scars.
The sentence: Bevan was jailed for five years and four months and must serve up to half of that in prison before he can be released on licence.
