VETERAN, 39-years-old, has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, possession of a knife in a public place, and driving without insurance while disqualified following an incident at a child’s birthday party in Sandfields, Port Talbot.
Edward Barber, the defendant, initially appeared in Magistrates court on Monday (Apr 22), where he pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and possessing a knife but admitted guilt to the driving offences. On Friday (May 24), Barber changed his plea to guilty for the charge of possessing a knife in a public place. Later, on Thursday (Aug 1), he pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.
Barber has a significant criminal history, with 23 offences resulting in 11 court appearances. His previous convictions include carrying a blade or sharp object and possession of an offensive weapon. In August 2006, he was convicted twice for driving while disqualified and without insurance.
The incident occurred on Saturday (Apr 20) during a birthday party, hosted by the complainant for his daughter. The event, attended by both adults and children, took a violent turn when Barber’s daughter became upset due to apparent bullying and left the party. Shortly after, Barber drove his partner’s vehicle onto the complainant’s property.
After, outside the property, Barber confronted the complainant, shouting threats including, “I’ll cut you up”, while holding a kitchen knife with a blade approximately six inches long. According to witnesses, Barber performed a martial arts-style roundhouse kick that struck the complainant, causing injuries and bruising. The incident was witnessed by several people. The children who attended the party did not see the fight itself but witnessed the aftermath.
Following the incident, Barber was arrested on suspicion of assault and driving without insurance while disqualified. During his police interview, Barber admitted to the driving offences but denied the assault. He described the complainant as intoxicated, and that he had charged at him, which prompted a defensive reaction from the defendant. Although Barber admitted to having martial arts training from his time in the military in Iraq, he insisted that he did not intend to harm the complainant and denied causing any injuries. Despite this, Barber later pleaded guilty to the assault and knife possession charges, explaining that the knife was not exposed while he was holding it.
The complainant has reported ongoing physical and psychological distress since the incident. He experiences sleepless nights, ongoing pain, and numbness in his shoulder. Additionally, the complainant now feels anxiety around individuals with beards, fearing they could be Barber. Due to these concerns, a restraining order has been granted to prevent Barber from directly and indirectly contacting the victim, which will be valid for a total of 5 years.
Barber moved to Wales seeking a better life for himself and his family after serving in Iraq. Approximately four to five weeks before the incident, his partner gave birth to their daughter, who required intensive care at the hospital. During this time, Barber’s mental state deteriorated due to emotional distress and worry for his family’s well-being. He explains his actions are due to the stress and expresses deep regret for his behaviour.
Barber has been in custody for four months, and his family has struggled with the consequences of his actions, further contributing to his remorse. While on remand, he has been actively involved in the veteran support network scheme and has been helping other inmates with reading and writing.
Wednesday (Aug 28) at Swansea Crown Courts, MR Recorder, Simon Hughes, sentenced Edward Barber to 12 months in custody and 12 months in probation. This sentence reflects Barber’s conduct involving the possession of a knife, even though it was not used. The defendant must follow the guidelines of this sentencing otherwise he may be recalled to prison and face the resulting consequences.
