Man attacked complete stranger at Powys caravan park

Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Terry Anthony Davies attacked his victim on multiple occasions during the early hours of June 3 at the holiday park, near Welshpool.

Davies, 37, blamed the incident on free shots of tequila and the belief his drinks had been spiked. He admitted one charge of assault at court on Tuesday, October 31.

Prosecutor Helen Tench told the hearing the attack on Ms Newton occurred at around 1.15am at Henllan Caravan Park, Llangyniew.

“She was camping on site with her family. At around 1.15am outside she heard a male shouting,” said Mrs Tench.

“It was the defendant, who was shouting aggressively. She asked him to go away, but he began shouting in her face, and he threatened her daughter.

“A witness heard him say ‘I’m going to kill you’, saying the victim looked petrified. He left then approached and grabbed her by the throat, picking her off the ground and slamming her to the ground.

“He was extremely aggressive and not making any sense. The defendant re-approached and grabbed her again, this time slamming her into an awning pole, which bent.

“The witness said she saw her three children running away, with one shouting ‘he’s killing my mum’. She let the children inside her caravan.”

Mrs Tench said Ms Newton suffered grazes and bruises. The police were called and Davies was so enraged he was handcuffed to the rear of a vehicle.

“He was shouting abuse at officers,” she added.

“The victim had never met the defendant before, she was genuinely scared for her life and afraid for her family.

“The defendant said he didn’t remember anything after drinking alcohol, telling police ‘fresh air must have hit him’ after he left a club.”

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Davies, of Weston Road, Rhyl, was described as a hard-working family man who coaches children’s football and is involved in his local community by his solicitor, Rob Hanratty.

“It was a very unpleasant incident, the defendant recognises that,” he said.

“He was shocked by the description of the incident. He was on a family weekend with his wife and children. He doesn’t drink much anymore but had a few drinks in his accommodation, then in the pub.

“They were in a group and a barman started dishing out tequila which he’d never had before. He wasn’t paying for them. The incident was down to a combination of that and a belief a substance had been put involuntarily into his system, he suspected it was a spiking.

“He is shocked, ashamed and very remorseful.”

Probation officer Julian Davies said the defendant, a self-employed plasterer, told him he’d consumed 12 cans of beer and four to five shots.

“He is unable to recall leaving the pub,” he said.

“He accepts the victim’s version of events. He was absolutely disgusted with himself when he heard the facts.

“He admits to previous issues with alcohol when he was younger, but he now rarely consumes alcohol.”

Cynthia McVey, chair of the bench, told Davies: “This was a violent attack against a woman you did not know, in the presence of children, after you’d consumed a great deal of alcohol.

“Your remorse does not detract from the shock she would have suffered.”

Davies was given a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay his victim £500 compensation and he must also pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.