‘Wrecked’ Newport reveller used metal bar to shatter shop window (From South Wales Argus)

‘Wrecked’ Newport reveller used metal bar to shatter shop window

3:40pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Emma Mackintosh

A NEWPORT man who said he was “wrecked” when he smashed a kebab shop window with a metal bar has been given a suspended sentence.

Judge David Wynn Morgan told Joshua Williams, of Baird Close, that he hoped he was ashamed of himself, and described the incident as “absolutely disgraceful behaviour”.

Last month Williams, 21, was convicted of damaging a window and possessing an offensive weapon at Newport Grill, Upper Dock Street, after admitting both offences.

Jason Howell, prosecuting at Newport Crown Court yesterday, said Williams was intoxicated at the kebab shop at around 2am on November 29 last year, and was “generally making a nuisance”.

“He was shouting for his food but he hadn’t ordered any,” said Mr Howell.

“Staff asked him to leave but he refused. They showed him out, and once outside he walked towards the market, shouting at others in the street.”

Williams returned holding a foot-long metal bar and shouted for staff to go outside, threatening to smash the window, their faces and to kill them, Mr Howell said.

Williams was arrested and admitted in interview that he had drunk a 35cl bottle of vodka and a few pints, describing himself as “wrecked”, and said he had wanted to scare the shop staff.

Judge Wynn Morgan said: “The workers at the takeaway provide a public service. It was quite evident that the amount of drink you had taken made you very brave and difficult.”

Williams was given a 16- week prison sentence for each offence, to run concurrently and suspended for 24 months.

He will be supervised for 12 months and must complete 250 hours’ unpaid work, as well as paying £594 compensation to the shop and an £80 victim surcharge.