A Powys thug was branded 'a high risk of physical and sexual harm to the public' after being jailed for two years for a brutal attack in Newtown.

Louise Thomas, of Llanllwchaiarn Road in Newtown, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court via video link from prison on Monday morning.

The 24-year-old had previously admitted one offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Jemma Gordon, prosecuting, told the court that on April 9, a woman named Tilly Lloyd-Jones was walking along a canal path in Newtown.

She passed a bench, where Thomas sat with a hood up.

A short while later, the defendant startled Ms Lloyd-Jones by walking past her and out of sight.

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But Thomas then doubled back and without a word punched the victim in the face twice.

Ms Lloyd-Jones fell to the floor and was subjected to multiple punches, kicks and stamps to the face and head.

Thomas eventually stopped, but not before inflicting "nasty facial injuries and bruising".

The defendant was arrested after being identified on CCTV footage.

Thomas, who was remanded to Berwyn men's prison awaiting sentencing, remained "silent" in interview.

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In her victim impact statement, Ms Lloyd-Jones, who fortunately did not sustain any fractures in the attack, said she was left feeling uneasy and anxious about leaving her home.

She explained the assault had chipped four of her teeth, requiring dental work.

Ms Gordon told the court that the defendant had nine previous convictions for 21 offences; including assault, sexual assault, battery and indecent images of children - among others.

John Wyn Williams, defending, conceded the case was "concerning on any view."

He said: "The custody threshold has been passed by a long way and it will be a custodial sentence.

"It is set out in the pre-sentence report that the defendant expresses some kind of victim empathy.

"She doesn't accept the offence was sexually motivated in any way.

"Your Honour will have seen a sad background to this young woman.

"She has been in residential care homes and suffers unstable moods.

"But in fairness to her, she's willing to engage with the prison authorities in Berwyn."

Mr Wyn Williams said he hoped his client's "complex mental health needs" could be addressed in prison.

Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant her actions had been "unprovoked and frightening," adding: "All she did was walk past you.

"With no explanation or reason - now or then - you started punching her, and carried on kicking and stamping.

"This is clearly a very concerning case and it isn't the first time you've been in trouble.

"You're assessed as a high risk of harm to the public - physical and sexual."

Given the seriousness of the offence before the court, as well as the defendant's previous convictions, Judge Petts concluded that a standard sentence "would not suffice".

As such, he jailed Thomas for two years and imposed an extended licence period of two-and-a-half years.