A MAN from Rhyl who “slashed” at a person’s face and hospitalised another after repeatedly kicking and stamping on him has been jailed.

William Gregory, 22, of Clwyd Street, was sentenced to two years and two months’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (January 16).

He had previously admitted charges of possession of a bladed article, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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Prosecuting, Brett Williamson told the court that, on August 4, 2022, an incident of disorder occurred in the vicinity of Gwynfryn Avenue, Rhyl involving Gareth Owens’ two daughters.

When Mr Owens arrived at the scene, Gregory and his brother were also present; the defendant had been in a relationship with one of the daughters, who was also friends with his brother.

As confrontation ensued, Mr Owens contacted police after there was a suggestion that Gregory, who was intoxicated, was carrying a knife.

Gregory was then said to be “bouncing around” with his hand behind his back, before raising a knife, with a blade of roughly three to four inches in length, above his head.

He then brought the knife down on to the left side of Mr Owens’ temple, “effectively stabbing him to the head” using the length of the knife, rather than the blade.

Mr Owens, who stressed in a statement that he “didn’t lay a finger” on Gregory, recalled hearing a “crunching sound” as he was “slashed”.

The incident left him with a 2cm cut over his left temple and a lasting scar, while he said he “no longer feels safe” when he leaves his home and receives counselling.

This also happened just a few days after Gregory received a community order for a previous public order offence, meanwhile.

On April 14, 2023, Gregory and another male attended the Imperial Hotel in Rhyl; the address of Jordan Jones, who he had known for many years.

Mr Jones awoke to find himself being attacked by Gregory and the other male; he said he was stamped on his head “five to 10 times” and also kicked in the jaw.

The hotel manager was able to bring the incident to an end, but Mr Jones’ jaw was left displaced and his eye swollen; he was later taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

In a statement, he said he has “no idea why the incident happened”.

That the door to his room was rendered insecure following the incident left him feeling “unsafe”, he added.

Defending Gregory, who had nine previous convictions for 19 offences, Sarah Yates said he had a “very difficult childhood” which saw him placed in care and be “bounced from one home to another”.

“His life was very chaotic… because of that, he dealt with things very, very badly,” she added.

Ms Yates said he is “remorseful” and has used his time remanded in custody “effectively”, having undertaken educational courses and gained employment in prison.

He wants to “gain a better life for himself”, she said.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts also ordered Gregory to abide by a five-year restraining order, which includes not contacting Mr Owens or entering Gwynfryn Avenue.

Judge Petts told him: “You are a young man who, no doubt, still has a lot of growing up to do.”