Nathan Bantick, 34, from Mount Pleasant, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting sexual assault and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a series of incidents on The Kingsway on 26 November last year.
Swansea Crown Court heard Bantick made inappropriate comments to a group of teenage girls before touching an 18‑year‑old woman on the groin and thigh. When his friend Kevin Owen challenged him, Bantick punched him to the ground and kicked him before walking back to the nearby hostel where he was living.
Around 15 minutes later, Mr Owen returned to the hostel and told staff Bantick had been “chatting up young girls”. Bantick then launched a second attack, knocking him to the floor and repeatedly punching him in the face. Mr Owen was later taken to Morriston Hospital with severe swelling, bruising and two missing teeth.
Judge Geraint Walters said the public was “rightly concerned about hooligans and predators on our streets”, telling Bantick he had subjected the teenager to a “gross interference with her personal dignity” before carrying out a “merciless and sustained attack” on his friend.
Bantick has six previous convictions for 11 offences — including a notorious 2014 incident where he wore a Santa hat while attacking two women in a Swansea massage parlour after claiming he hadn’t received his “full half hour”. He then assaulted a customer who told him he couldn’t hit women, launching a sustained attack that left the man defenceless on the floor.
At the time, Bantick was serving in the Royal Marines and was warned a custodial sentence would end his military career. He was jailed for 12 months.
His barrister told the court Bantick was “genuinely remorseful” for the sexual assault and recognised his problems with alcohol. The court heard he has been diagnosed with PTSD and OCD and is awaiting assessment for ADHD.
Police said the victim had shown “commendable courage” in reporting the assault.
Detective Constable Ben Evans said:
“Nobody should go on a night out anywhere and expect to be on the receiving end of unwanted and inappropriate touching. Nathan Bantick’s actions were unacceptable and show this behaviour is serious enough to result in a prison sentence.”
He added that victims of sexual abuse would be “listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and supported throughout the judicial process”.
Bantick will serve up to half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
