A man who should have been in prison led an armed gang in an attack on a house, a court in Wales heard. William Joyce was granted a four-day temporary release from prison but failed to return, remaining at large for almost two years and participating in the violent incident. The judge noted that Joyce played a significant role in the attack on the house. During the assault, which took place in Gorseinon, four armed men arrived in a van, smashed windows while searching for someone named “Lurch,” and damaged property before fleeing the scene.
The victim, who was Joyce’s aunt, was at home with her family during the attack. Only Joyce among the perpetrators has been identified. The incident took place while Joyce was unlawfully at large, having been granted temporary release part-way through an eight-year sentence for involvement in a burglary gang responsible for over 70 burglaries in south Wales. Following his arrest in Cardiff after being stopped while towing a caravan, Joyce pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder, criminal damage, and failing to return to prison after temporary release.
Joyce’s defence attorney highlighted that after being granted temporary release, he returned to his partner and children, who were facing difficulties. His stay in Swansea led to the chain of events, including the house attack. Despite the victim withdrawing support for the prosecution, the judge found Joyce guilty of violent disorder and sentenced him to three years in prison. Joyce, with a history of previous convictions, will serve up to half of the sentence before release on licence. The court heard about Joyce’s involvement in a criminal group targeting homes for burglaries and the subsequent police investigation that led to his capture.