A "VIOLENT bully" from Wrexham who attacked his son and damaged several vehicles has been jailed. 

Shane Griffiths, of Heol Mabon, Penycae, was sentenced in his absence at Mold Crown Court having previously admitted five counts of criminal damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The defendant chose not to leave his cell at HMP Berwyn where he was being held on remand ahead of the sentencing. 

Anna Price, prosecuting, said that Griffiths, aged 37, at around 2.30pm on September 5 of this year, damaged a number cars and a van that were parked on Erddig Road. 

Ross Jennings, the owner of a ford transit van, parked it and left it for around 10 minutes. When he returned he noticed the defendant standing by a silver Peugeot and then heard the sound of glass smashing. He saw Griffiths had smashed one of the windows, and then witnessed him throw a lump of concrete at the window of a Vauxhall. Griffiths was seen doing so two or three times at the window - and then around five times at the bodywork of the car. 

Mr Jennings challenged the defendant, who replied: "What the f*** are you going to do about it, mate?". Griffiths then threw the same boulder at Mr Jennings' Ford Transit van - hitting the bonnet and then bouncing up onto the windscreen. 

The court heard that Griffiths also damaged an Audi which had its rear passenger windows and windscreen smashed, a Dacha Sandero which had its driver's side window smashed, as well as dents to the door and damage to the bumper. 

Police were called and the defendant was found hiding in a tree in a nearby park. He didn't come down until after 6pm, when he was arrested. In interview, the defendant took full responsibility for the damage - saying it was done out of frustration and that he'd had two bottles of wine. 

The court also heard that on October 1, the defendant assaulted his son, Leon Griffiths. At around 6pm, Mr Griffiths was at home where he lives with his grandmother. The defendant was due to stay the night having been "thrown out" of his home address. At 8.30pm, the defendant arrived and seemed to his son to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

At 9.30pm, Mr Griffiths had to go out and look for his grandmother's dog which the defendant had let out of the house. Mr Griffiths, having been assaulted by his father on previous occasions, had contacted a friend and asked her to come back to the address with him. 

When Mr Griffiths returned to the house, his father was outside. Mr Griffiths asked him to leave, to which the defendant replied: "Whatever, you fat ****". When Mr Griffiths repeated that the defendant had to go, the defendant said: "I'll show you who's got to go". 

The defendant then walked towards Mr Griffiths with a lighter in his right hand, and the bottom of it sticking out of his clenched fist. He punched Mr Griffiths with the lighter a number of times to the head, face and ribs. 

One of Mr Griffiths' two friends who were parked in a car nearby heard Mr Griffiths cry out, saying: "I'm sorry, please stop". 

Mr Griffiths managed to flee to the car, but the defendant caught up with him and hit him in the mouth - causing the victim's mouth to spray with blood. 

The defendant, then went back into the address and returned with a crate of alcohol, proceeding to throw cans at the car - causing dents and scratches. Griffiths, who has 14 previous convictions for 31 offences, was subsequently arrested.

Duncan Bould,, defending, referred to a pre-sentence report which states that the defendant had shown remorse for his actions. The defendant had said that the criminal damage offences had been committed in frustration that the defendant hadn't got a job he was expecting to. 

Judge Niclas Parry described Griffiths as a "violent man and a bully", and sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment.