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Posted on the 25th March 2025 in PHTM News
NEWPORT MAN AVOIDS JAIL AFTER BRUTAL WINE BOTTLE ATTACK ON TAXI DRIVER
A Newport man, Anthony Griffiths, 49, narrowly avoided jail after a "very cruel and cowardly" alcohol-fuelled assault on a taxi driver, during which he broke the driver's nose with a wine bottle.
The incident, which occurred in Abergavenny on 27 February, 2021, also saw Griffiths "charge like a bull" at a police officer attempting to arrest him, punching him in the head.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that Griffiths became aggressive shortly after being picked up in Llanellen, shouting and swearing at taxi driver Erol Aglamaz, and demanding to be let out of the vehicle while it was on a dual carriageway.
Prosecutor Ross McQuillan-Johnson stated that Griffiths then slapped a female passenger who had begun crying, before striking Mr Aglamaz in the face with a wine bottle and damaging the taxi's interior.
The driver pulled over and the police were called.
"Although the officer initially notes that the defendant was compliant with his orders, he ignored the command to get on the ground and charged at the officer," McQuillan-Johnson said, describing the charge as "almost being animalistic, like a bull, with his eyes fixed on him."
The officer was knocked to the ground and punched, and Griffiths was abusive towards arresting officers, causing significant damage to a police van cage.
Mr Aglamaz suffered two black eyes and a broken nose requiring corrective surgery.
Griffiths admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating of an emergency worker, and two counts of criminal damage. His barrister, Peter Donnison, noted his client's lack of previous convictions and clean record in the four years since the incident.
Recorder Dyfed Llion Thomas condemned the delay in the case. He told the defendant: "You carried out a very cruel and cowardly attack on Mr Aglamaz who is in work at the time as a taxi driver. The court takes very seriously assaults upon people who serve the public.
"They should be safe from drunken yobbish behaviour and indeed violent behaviour like you displayed that night. If you can’t handle your drink Mr Griffiths, stay away from it."
Griffiths received a 12-month suspended sentence, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, and was instructed to pay £1,500 in compensation and a £156 victim surcharge.
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