Man jailed for seven years and three months for brutal attack

Thomas Love, who brutally attacked his 'friend' – including punching him 41 times in the head – has been jailed for seven years and three months.

Just after midnight on October 9, 2023, Thomas Love, 53, from Trowbridge, Cardiff, seriously assaulted his 'friend’ outside Tesco in St Mellons. The attack was prolonged over 16 minutes, with Love punching the victim 41 times to the head, face and body, kicking him 14 times, and hitting him over the head six times with a speaker.

The victim was left drifting in and out of consciousness and was later found a short distance away from Tesco by a member of the public with his face covered in blood.

The victim suffered multiple fractures to his face, broken ribs and a collapsed lung requiring him to have surgery over a 12-day period spent in hospital. The attack has had a lasting effect on the victim, including physically and psychologically.

As officers were called to the victim, a second call was received of another assault that had taken place a short distance away from Tesco in Ferntree Drive, St Mellons.

Love had left Tesco and walked to Ferntree Drive where he assaulted another victim. Love had entered the property and assaulted the victim by punching him to the face and attempting to gouge his eyes. The second victim was able to run out of the house and flee to a friend's address nearby where police were called. The second victim suffered cuts and bruising from the attack.

Detective Constable Alex Lloyd said:

“Thankfully CCTV captured the whole attack on where Love was able to be identified, arrested and charged.

“Love can be described as a danger to the public and the sentence provided by the judge matches this.”

Love was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, February 8, following a guilty plea. He was sentenced to seven years and three months custodial and another four years on license.