A shocking brawl in Aberystwyth has left one man injured and locals outraged. The fight, captured on camera in the usually peaceful Ceredigion town, saw a man treated for non-life threatening wounds.
Judge Slams ‘Disgraceful’ Incident
Judge Huw Rees branded the violence “disgraceful” and blasted the trio for ruining Aberystwyth’s tourist reputation. An eyewitness called the chaos “madness.” The judge told the defendants, “You had been welcomed in Aberystwyth, a well-known tourist town, and you had thrown the welcome back in their faces.”
Harsh Sentences for brawlers
- Richard Allen, 31, from Sheldon, Birmingham, got 22 months prison, suspended for 12, after pleading guilty to affray, criminal damage to a police cell, and breaching bail in October 2019.
- Darren Dragoonis, 35, Birmingham, received 16 months suspended for 12 after admitting affray.
- Jack Smith, 27, of Solihull, West Midlands, was sentenced to 16 months suspended for 12 after pleading guilty to affray and possession of a Class B drug.
‘A Total Disgrace’
Judge Rees asked the men to consider how families feel, saying, “How would you feel, fathers, if your children were out and about in Aberystwyth and saw something like this? It’s a total disgrace.”
Despite the severity, the court noted all three had shown “increased maturity” since the fracas and had not been involved in any violent crime since. Instead of jail time, they must complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
