Man jailed for 11 years for Guilsfield attack

A Guilsfield man who viciously assaulted his neighbour has been jailed for 11 years.

We reported last summer of a massive police operation at Garth Vaughn flats in the village, and details have emerged after Craig Bailey received the lengthy sentence for the assault on Thomas Gibson, 66, that left him unconscious and bloodied, with life-changing injuries in September. 

The 48-year-old admitted wounding with intent and was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday. 

Sentencing him, the BBC reported that Judge Timothy Petts said it was a "horrendous and cowardly” attack.

Prosecuting, James Coutts said on the day of the attack, Mr Gibson reported to the police that his van's wing mirror had been broken by Bailey and left a note for the defendant, the court heard. 

Later, neighbours heard a man shouting for help and saw Bailey pinning Mr Gibson to the ground outside. 

Mr Coutts said Bailey hit the victim's head on the ground two or three times, with punches also thrown. Bailey then dragged Mr Gibson inside the victim’s flat.

When police arrived soon after, Bailey told them: “I have killed him.”

The court heard there was blood on the front door and Bailey said the “body” was behind it. 

Afterwards, the victim, who walked with a stick, had memory problems and didn't recall much about the assault.

He was flown by air ambulance to an acute medical unit at the Royal Stoke Hospital after being unconscious with a bleed on the brain. The court heard a subsequent stroke was probably linked to the attack.

At the end of January, Mr Gibson was still a patient at Newtown Hospital awaiting a social services assessment, the prosecutor added.

Defending, Matthew Curtis said Bailey had expressed remorse, adding: “It’s a tragic way for the victim to come towards the latter part of his life.”

Judge Petts jailed Bailey for 11 years and three months and handed him an indefinite restraining order.