Serial raider is put away for five years

Matthew Williams, 25, was said to have spent most of the last eight years in custody and was in danger of being institutionalised.

Williams, of Maes-y-Coed, Blackwood, had been found guilty of wounding Michael Woodvine with intent.

He had been committed for sentence by Caerphilly magistrates after he was convicted of three charges of burglary.

He also asked the court to take into consideration four charges of burglary and two attempted burglaries involving property worth 1,375.

Judge David Morris said Williams committed the burglaries because of his addiction to heroin but that was little if no excuse.

"You have presented a considerable problem to householders," he said.

The attack occurred, said the judge, because Williams had a grievance against Mr Woodvine.

The court heard that he saw Mr Woodvine in the street and attacked him with an axe or pickaxe handle.

Prosecutor Richard Twomlow said Williams broke into a house in Cwrt Hendre, Blackwood, and stole 300 which had been a child's Christmas gift. He left his footprints behind.

He was arrested and four days later broke into a house in Gordon Road, Blackwood, and stole jewellery and bank cards worth 400.

His next target, said Mr Twomlow, was a house in Elgar Close, Blackwood, where he took 404 in cash which represented savings for holiday.

He later admitted committing a series of further burglaries in Blackwood and Hengoed.

Williams was said to have previous convictions for burglary, possessing an offensive weapon, assaulting the police, causing actual bodily harm and affray.

His counsel, Meirion Davies, said he told the police why and how he committed the burglaries.

He said he had spent eight years in some form of custody and was in danger of becoming institutionalised.

Because of his addiction to Class A drugs his mental and physical health had been affected.

"He has problems but don't crush him," said Mr Davies.