Swansea Crown Court heard that 27‑year‑old Craig Cole, from Ystradgynlais, struck the man several times after seeing him speak to his former partner on the stairs of the Plan B nightclub off The Kingsway.
The victim suffered four wounds to the top of his head, one of which had to be glued shut. He later told the court he was struggling to come to terms with the attack and that the thought of how much worse it could have been “stays with me”.
Cole pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and was jailed for 30 months.
Judge says defendant acted out of “insecure, sexual jealousy”
Judge Paul Thomas KC said Cole had shown “an excess of insecure, sexual jealousy” and attacked the man “simply because he had the temerity to talk to your ex‑partner”. He told Cole he needed to “grow up” and understand that women are not his property.
The court heard the victim had been out with friends on December 31 before ending up in Plan B. After a brief exchange with Cole’s former partner, Cole appeared and a confrontation followed. Several women stepped between the two men, but Cole reached over them and hit the victim repeatedly with a vodka bottle he had taken from his pocket.
When a member of security intervened, Cole pushed him away and struck the victim again as he tried to walk off.
Victim taken to hospital after “bloody” assault
The attack was reported to police and the victim was taken to hospital, where medics treated four separate head wounds. He said he remembered little of the incident other than seeing a bottle coming towards him and then receiving first aid inside the club.
A week later, Cole handed himself in at Swansea Central police station but answered “no comment” to all questions.
Previous convictions and “10 seconds of madness”
The court heard Cole has six previous convictions for nine offences, including criminal damage and common assault. One earlier incident also involved a male and an ex‑partner, during which Cole threw a brick through a window and injured the man inside.
His barrister said the nightclub incident was “10 seconds of madness” fuelled by jealousy, alcohol and a sense of being “disrespected”. He said Cole had written a letter to the court expressing remorse and that a former employer had described him as having a strong work ethic.
Police say jealousy was the motive
PC Matthew McGowan said:
Craig Cole is a young man who was clearly full of immense jealousy regarding any attention shown to his ex‑partner.
That jealousy caused him to become violent. His actions were completely unacceptable and could have caused lasting damage to the victim.
There was no other alternative outcome than for Cole to go to prison.
Cole will serve up to half his 30‑month sentence in custody before being released on licence.
