A man slashed his best friend across the neck with a blade during a drink and drug-fuelled altercation. It is thought Kyle Lloyd used a craft type-knife to cut his mate, causing two wounds which required stitches and staples to close. The 32-year-old defendant has a history of violent offending, including an attempted robbery.
Swansea Crown Court heard Lloyd and a friend spent October 23 last year drinking whisky and Stella lager and taking cannabis and crack cocaine at the defendant's home in the Afan Valley. Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, said as the day progressed Lloyd became increasingly angry and aggressive as he talked about his partner and children. The pair ended up scuffling with Lloyd's friend telling him to calm down and stop shouting at him as he was "the only mate he had left".
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When the confrontation ended the friend realised there was blood on his neck, and when he checked he found two large lacerations. The court heard though no weapon was seen, the victim believed Lloyd was in the habit of carrying a Stanley-type blade. The victim did not initially report the incident but the following day was persuaded to go to hospital in Bridgend where 17 stitches were used to close one of the wounds, while the other was closed with staples.
The prosecutor said Lloyd was arrested and deemed fit to be interviewed but kept falling asleep while being questioned and was not engaging with officers - he was returned to his cell and then interviewed again later that same day but spent much of the interview with his head on the desk.
In an impact statement which was read to the court the victim said he had been left with two scars to the throat which were causing considerable pain. He said he was concerned about whether the the scars would be permanent, and worried about what to tell his children.
Kyle Lloyd, of Fairfield Road, Croeserw, Cymmer, had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 17 previous convictions for 31 offences including common assault, assaulting a police officer, attempted robbery, and five batteries.
James Hartson, for Lloyd, said it was accepted the defendant had suffered two nasty wounds but said there had been no nerve or arterial damage.
Judge Geraint Walters said he could not claim to fully understand what had happened on the day in question - and said he suspected the defendant could not either. He said after consuming drink and drugs Lloyd had become morose and then had "completely lost it". The judge told Lloyd it was "pure luck" that the victim did not suffer fatal injuries and he was not in the dock facing a lengthy prison sentence for manslaughter.
With a 20 per cent discount for his guilty plea, Lloyd was sentenced to two years in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
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