A ONE-MAN crime wave who torched a former friend’s house in Markham and broke someone’s jaw in a campaign of violence fuelled by drink and drugs has been jailed for nine years.

Simon Williams, 22, hit Richard Rees with a pole up to 3ft long shattering his jaw and flattening his cheekbone, a court was told.

Once on the floor, Williams repeatedly punched him, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

The assault on January 16 last year left Mr Rees with a permanent indent on his face, the court heard.

Williams, of Highfield Crescent, Aberbargoed, was arrested and bailed. But on March 10 he went to beat up acquaintance Anthony Folley, who was at the house of Ian and Ann-Marie Jones in the town.

Mr Folley left the house, but Williams turned on his girlfriend April Davies, who was outside.

He lifted Mr Folley’s partner off her feet, and thrust her against a wall grazing her arm, which left her “terrified”, prosecutor David Thomas said.

He then kicked the garden gate open and hit pregnant Ann-Marie Jones with a scaffolding-type pole swinging it from side to side.

Her husband intervened, but he was also hit as Williams “went nuts”, causing swelling and bruising to his victims.

Mrs Jones later had to wait 14 hours in hospital to find out that her unborn baby still had a heartbeat.

Williams was again arrested and bailed, but on August 13 he threatened his pal Daniel Thomas. There was some “bad feeling” between them after the defendant started a relationship with Mr Thomas’s former partner, the court was told.

Williams sent a message to him, saying: “I’m going to smash your house up. When I catch you, you won’t be walking again.” In the early hours of August 14 he broke into his house in Abernant Road, Markham, set fire to a sofa and threw paint onto the walls, causing up to £25,000 worth of damage. A mother and her eight-year-old son were asleep next door, but luckily a passing motorist spotted the blaze and called 999.

Williams pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, two charges of possessing offensive weapons, assault against April Davies, and causing actual bodily harm to Ann-Marie Jones and Ian Jones.

He also admitted threatening to damage Mr Thomas’ property and arson.

Judge Gaskell said Williams had a “long history of criminal offending”.

Jailing him for nine years, Judge Gaskell: “You present a very significant risk of inflicting serious harm. You are totally indiscriminate in your offending.”

David Webster, mitigating, said drink and drugs were the background to the offences.

However, he said his client had “come to his senses” and entered guilty pleas,.

Judge Gaskell imposed a restraining order to stop him contacting his victims.

The judge also imposed an “extended term” of three years. If Williams reoffends or breaches his licence after release he will be taken back into custody and will have to serve 12 years.