Jail for Wrexham man who hit woman outside Atik nightclub

Jordan Roberts, of Wrexham Road in Cefn-Y-Bedd, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday morning via video link from HMP Berwyn.

The 30-year-old had previously admitted one offence of assaulting an emergency worker, and was found guilty after trial of assault occasioning actual bodily harm - both of which happened in Brook Street, Wrexham, in the early hours of May 8 this year.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court complainant Nia Watson had attended a celebratory night out with friends on the day of the offence.

One of her friends, Laura Evans, had been calling at locations around Wrexham City centre in search of her handbag and eventually they arrived at Atik nightclub at around 3am.

As they approached, Laura Evans got into an argument with the defendant and fearing she was to be assaulted, Ms Watson got between them.

Jordan Roberts (North Wales Police) (Image: NWP)

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At that point, Mr Scholz explained, Roberts delivered "a hay-maker of a punch" to her head, knocking her "completely to the floor."

A paramedic who happened to be nearby attended to Ms Watson and asked if she'd lost a tooth.

It later turned out three of her teeth had been damaged in the assault.

Police officer Kerry Fogerty arrived at the scene to find the Atik doormen struggling to detain Roberts.

As PC Fogerty tried to explain what was happening to him, the defendant told her: "I'm going to blow your head off," among other threats.

Whilst another officer tried to handcuff him, Roberts pushed PC Fogerty against a wall and continued to threaten her, before making a noise which suggested he was about to spit at her.

The officer used her incapacitant spray and the defendant was taken to the floor and arrested.

His "vile" behaviour continued in custody, where he threatened to kill officers' families.

Atik (Staff) (Image: Staff)

Mr Scholz told the court: "To suggest he behaved like an animal, the crown says, would be an insult to animals."

The offences put the defendant in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in January this year for an incident in which he struck a woman's hand with a piece of wood, and headbutted her.

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Andrew Green, defending, told the court his client had been on a drug rehabilitation requirement prior to the latest offences.

He said: "It's a sad feature that he involved himself in these offences because the [drug rehabilitation] report confirms he was progressing well.

"He gave negative samples for drugs - and that was one of his big problems in the past.

"These are serious and ugly offences, I accept that - and he understands only a custodial sentence is suitable.

"He can't claim any credit for the ABH matter; he had a trial and lost. But he had the good sense to plead to the assault on an emergency worker.

"No weapon was used. [This was] impulsive, spontaneous [and] short-lived."

Mr Green said his client had been working as a machinist prior to the offence, and that he wished to apologise for his actions.

Recorder Greg Bull told the defendant: "Ms Watson was an innocent member of the public.

"You connected with one violent 'hay-making' punch which knocked her to the floor and she appears to have been rendered unconscious in the video clip I have seen.

"You were plainly under the influence of drink or drugs.

"Police tried to arrest you and you were out of control."

Recorder Bull handed down a total sentence of 45 months immediate custody - comprising 30 for the assault on Ms Watson and 15 consecutive months activated as part of the breached suspended sentence.

A further six months were imposed for assaulting PC Fogerty, but they were made concurrent.