Pair thrown into the air as man deliberately drives at them

Wales Online

8 hours ago

Pair thrown into the air as man deliberately drives at them
Johnathan Newbury 33, rammed Ryan Jones and a 17-year-old man with a black SUV having earlier been seen brandishing a Zombie knife
Johnathan Newbury
A "violent" man seriously injured two men after driving an SUV at them at speed and caused one of them grievous bodily harm. He was told by a judge he had neither "accepted guilt or shown remorse" for his actions.
Johnathan Newbury, 33, rammed Ryan Jones and a 17-year-old man with a black SUV in Cardiff on July 5 last year after there had been an earlier altercation. The defendant was seen by the victims in the street having armed himself with a Zombie knife.
‌
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday heard the two victims were "thrown into the air" after being hit by the vehicle and were left by a range of injuries. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
‌
A trial previously heard Mr Jones and the teenager had booked into the same Airbnb venue as Newbury.
There had been an altercation between the victims and a number of men at the property in Bruce Street, Cathays, with threats and racial slurs thrown at Mr Jones and the teenager from a window such as: "I'll f*** you up".
Jonathan aka Johnathan Newbury
Article continues below
They later returned to the Airbnb and spoke to a woman who warned them the men who had shouted at them earlier would "bonnet" them.
At around midnight the SUV was seen on CCTV pulling into Bruce Street and four men were seen to alight from that vehicle.
The men were armed with Zombie knives and were described as "intent on violence" with the victims. Mr Jones and the 17-year-old later identified Newbury as one of the men.
‌
The defendant was seen to get into the driver's seat of the SUV and followed the victims into Bruce Street with the "clear aim" of attacking them.
Both Mr Jones and the 17-year-old ran away from the scene but were seen by Newbury emerging onto Crwys Road from the junction with Dogfield Street.
As they crossed the junction with Malefant Street Newbury sped up and drove onto the wrong side of the road to deliberately collide with the two victims, throwing them up into the air and causing them both serious bodily injury.
‌
The defendant then drove off at speed in the direction of Llanedeyrn.
Mr Jones suffered injuries to his pelvis and right foot while the 17-year-old lost consciousness and sustained injuries to his jaw, ribs, chest, and abdomen.
Mr Jones identified Newbury as having been in the SUV and also said he had seen the same man on May 3 at a hospital. The prosecutor told the jury Newbury was later found to have been at the hospital on the date given.
‌
Newbury, of Wern Goch West, Roath, Cardiff, was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, and possession of a bladed article.
The court heard he has 20 previous convictions for offences including robbery, witness intimidation, battery, assaulting emergency workers, violent disorder, attempted robbery, affray, and threatening a person with an offensive weapon.
In mitigation defence barrister Tim Montgomery said his client wasn't a "man on a mission" to commit these offences and questioned if the court could be satisfied if the defendant was the driver.
‌
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: "You do not accept your guilt and you have shown no remorse at all for the offences you have been found guilty of. You are a man who has resorted to violence in the past."
Newbury was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with an extended two years on licence. He will serve two-thirds of the sentence before he will be eligible for parole.
The defendant was also disqualified from driving upon his release from prison.
Article continues below
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.