CCTV made attacker cry

Ryan Stephen Meek, from Neuadd Street, had been out celebrating his 21st birthday when he was involved in a fight with a group of older men near Abertillery's foundry bridge just after midnight on Sunday, August 10.

Meek and Daniel Marshman, aged 19, from Brace Avenue, Abertillery, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray when he appeared before Abertillery magistrates court.

The court was shown a video of CCTV of the incident.

Detective Constable Simon Offers, from Abertillery CID, the officer in the case, told the Argus: "This was one of the most shocking incidents I have seen for some time.

"Meek stamps on the head of a man who appears to be unconscious on the ground.

"Then there was a fight between Marshman and an older man, where Meek repeatedly kicks the man to the head and body.

"The final major incident occurs when a man dressed in black clothing is being punched by both Meek and Marshman at the same time, who collapses to the floor and appears to be unconscious."

Prosecutor Stella Westmacott called the attack "vicious". Lynda Rhead, mitigating for Meek, told of his reaction when police officers showed him the tape: "When he saw the video he was totally remorseful and was quite surprised he could have acted in the way he did.

"He thought that perhaps his drink had been spiked.

"He was flabbergasted by his behaviour and it brought him to tears."

In sentencing Meek to prison, chairman of the magistrates Keith Dykes said: "We are not going to tolerate this sort of behaviour in the town centre, or anywhere else.

"This offence is so serious that only a sentence of imprisonment can be justified."

Marshman's sentence was adjourned to Caerphilly magistrates court on September 9 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He was released on conditional bail.

DC Offers said: "I think the seriousness of the attack was reflected in the length of the sentence, which I'm very pleased with."