BIRMINGHAM man, Ash Gilmore, 31-years-old, appeared at Swansea Crown Court, Thursday (17 Oct) of this year for charges of committing actual bodily harm and criminal damage to the complainants car.
The prosecution, Mr Pulling, outlined that on Tuesday (28 Feb) 2023, the complainant was working as a DJ at Bar46, Aberystwyth when she encountered Gilmore, of Newhall Road, Rowley Regis, Birmingham. His aggressive behaviour, allegedly influenced by alcohol, created an uneasy atmosphere for her and other staff members. Following a confrontation, Gilmore was ejected from the bar.
During this time the defendant and his friends went to a guest house to drink more alcohol as well as smoke the class B drug. Cannabis. Later, they returned to Bar46, where the defendant and his accomplice were hiding.
As the victim left the bar past midnight, she headed towards her car to go home. When she attempted to close her car door, the duo held the car door open, and struck her with a white china mug. This resulted in significant injuries, including a scar on her face. CCTV footage was taken of this incident, showing the impact of the mug being smashed against the complaints head, shards flying across the road.
During her testimony, the victim expressed the psychological impact the attack had on her life. She reported severe anxiety, panic attacks, nightmare of the incident, and an inability to drive her car due to flashbacks. The incident has affected her career as a DJ, and she detailed the emotional and financial burdens she continues to face. The victim has stopped socialising due to the event, the judge praising her for attending court.
The defence counsel, Jonathan Tarrant argued that the defendant recognised the seriousness of his actions and did not seek to minimize his behaviour. Gilmore, who has no prior convictions or warnings and supports his family, did not understand why he committed these actions, although he takes full responsibility.
His Honour Judge Huw Rees acknowledged the gravity of the offence, noting the psychological trauma inflicted on the complainant. He emphasised that while Gilmore’s behaviour warranted imprisonment, he would consider a suspended sentence given the defendant’s lack of a criminal record and his commitment to rehabilitation.
Ultimately, Gilmore was sentenced to six months for assault and one month concurrent for damage to the victims car, suspending the sentence for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend 10 rehabilitation sessions, with a requirement to start paying compensation for the car damage.
