A MAN who attacked a grandfather with a pickaxe handle has been sent to prison.
Richard Cook, 45, of Broadmead, Gilwern, near Abergavenny, was sentenced to over four years in prison for assaulting Robert Price on May 25, 2024.
Cardiff Crown court heard that Cook was walking down the road from his parents’ house to his own home when he attacked Mr Price.
Cook had threatened Mr Price’s wife earlier in the day.
Cook had told Mrs Price that: “You’re lucky children are about as I wouldn’t be so nice.”
Later that evening, Mr Price was at home alone and watching television when he saw that his garage light was on.
CCTV footage from a neighbour’s house played at court, showed Mr Price going outside to investigate and seeing Cook in his driveway.
Cook told Mr Price: “I am going to f****** kill you.”
Mr Price, realising that Cook was the man who had threatened his wife earlier in the day, said: “You’re not going to threaten my wife today” and turned to go back to go into his house.
However at this point Cook attacked Mr Price. Cook had a pickaxe handle with him which he had got from the garden.
Cook knocked Mr Price to the ground and hit him on the head around 10 times, shouting “Have you had enough?”
The court heard that Mr Price started to lose consciousness and Cook tried to ram the pickaxe handle down his throat.
Neighbours ran to the scene and stopped the assault.
They took Mr Price to one of their homes. He had a 7cm wound on the side of his head and was covered in blood.
Mr Price’s daughter drove him to hospital where he needed stitches and treatment for the head wound and injuries to his right shoulder, right forearm, and abdomen.
The court heard Cook had a previous conviction for dangerous driving, which related to an incident involving a fatality.
Defending, John Ryan said Cook was provoked by Mr Price who made a comment about him “killing that boy from Crickhowell”.
Recorder John Philpotts sentenced Cook to four years and three months imprisonment, of which half will be served in custody and the rest on licence.