Cwmbran killer is jailed again after knocking out ex-girlfriend (From South Wales Argus)

Cwmbran killer is jailed again after knocking out ex-girlfriend

11:20am Monday 25th February 2013 in News

DIED: Gary Middleton

 A MAN jailed for manslaughter in 2009, was locked up again after punching his ex-girlfriend unconscious.

Defence barrister David Leathley told Cardiff Crown Court that Daniel Lynch, 28, has been “haunted and bedevilled’ after a single blow by him caused the death of his ex-girlfriend’s dad Gary Middleton on New Year’s Eve 2008.

In light of that, Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees called it extraordinary he was in court again on a violence charge.

She said: “You pleaded guilty to manslaughter, so should know your own strength and the fatal impact it can have.”

Lynch, now of Longacre, Fairwater, who is six feet tall and 17 stone pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on another exgirlfriend, 5ft 6in Nicola Hewitt.

The court was shown CCTV footage from Cwmbran Shopping at 12.40am on December 20 last year, which showed Lynch pushed Ms Hewitt hard against a wall, and gripped her face, squeezing his hands around her neck.

She tried to slap him, but Lynch then pushed her head back against a glass shop.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees said Lynch delivered a powerful left hook to the jawand she slumped to the floor, unconscious.

The footage showed Lynch help Ms Hewitt up, before the argument continued and he swung another hook to her head, knocking her to the ground again.

Two people then tried to intervene, but they walked away after Lynch ran menacingly at them. Ms Hewitt tried to groggily run off, but Lynch caught up with her. Police arrived and arrested him.

Mr Rees said Ms Hewitt suffered two lumps on her forehead, one on the crown of her head, and soreness on her shoulder and jaw.

In a victim impact statement, she said she accepted she was drunk and had no recollection of the incident.

Mr Leathley said they had been out drinking when an argument broke out because Lynch wanted to go home and Ms Hewitt wanted to stay out, with “things exploding”.

He added: “Their relationship was at times volatile and they bring out the worst in each other.”

Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees sentenced Lynch to 34 weeks in prison, of which he must serve half. Thirty-two weeks were for the assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two weeks consecutively for failing to surrender.

Manslaughter conviction

WE REPORTED in December 2009 how Lynch, then of Clyde Street, Risca, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for the manslaughter of Gary Middleton.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Lynch was living with father-of-three Mr Middleton’s eldest daughter Sarah, when they began arguing on New Year’s Eve 2008.

Mr Middleton was called and turned up at 2am to the house on Tan-y-Bryn in fancy dress after he had been at a party.

A number of arguments took place with youths getting involved, before a single punch by Lynch caused the victim to fall back, hitting his head on a kerb.

He died in hospital two months later from injuries sustained.