One-punch attacker hid in grandparent’s attic after putting victim in A&E
A man was left with devastating physical and mental injuries after being attacked outside a nightclub. Samuel Lock fell backwards and hit his head on the floor after being punched. He suffered a bleed on the brain and needed psychiatric help due to the effects of the incident. His attacker, Lewis Revilles, 20, went and hid in his grandparents’ loft after the assault, where police later found and arrested him.
Caernarfon Crown Court heard that Revilles had initially tried to “defuse” the incident outside Trilogy nightclub in Bangor on January , 2024, but then brutally attacked Mr. Lock. The court was told by prosecutor Elen Owen that the attack happened after Mr. Lock and his friends were asked to leave the nightclub. Revilles, who knew one of the security staff, attempted to intervene before both Mr. Lock and Revilles walked away along Brick Street.
After a brief altercation where the pair pushed each other, Revilles delivered a single punch to Mr. Lock’s face, causing him to fall backwards and sustain injuries to his face and head. At Ysbyty Gwynedd, a CT scan revealed bleeding on his brain, and he was later transferred to the Royal Stoke Hospital, where a fracture at the back of his skull was discovered. Mr. Lock described in victim impact statements the considerable pain, daily headaches, and hearing loss in his right ear, as well as losing £2,000 in wages due to being unable to work.
Furthermore, the assault led Mr. Lock to leave Bangor as he no longer felt safe there. He mentioned in his statement that he had to forfeit his driving licence and rely on taxis to get to work. The mental toll of the attack was so severe that he required treatment in a psychiatric ward. Simon Rogers, defending Revilles, argued that his client had initially intervened in the situation to help defuse it, but the events escalated beyond control. Revilles acknowledged that his actions were unlawful when he struck Mr. Lock.
Judge Her Honour Nicola Jones noted that Revilles was aware of the potential consequences of his actions, even with just a single punch. She sentenced him to 18 months in jail, which was suspended for 18 months. In addition to the suspended sentence, Revilles was ordered to participate in 25 days of rehabilitation activity and wear an electronic tag for a six-month 9 pm to 6 am curfew. A five-month restraining order preventing Revilles from contacting his victim was also put in place.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the serious and long-lasting impact of violent behaviour. The victim, Mr. Lock, has endured physical, emotional, and financial hardships as a result of the attack. It underscores the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts and the dire consequences of resorting to violence. The court’s decision to hand down a suspended sentence, coupled with rehabilitation requirements, aims to hold the perpetrator accountable while providing an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Such cases emphasize the need for societal efforts in promoting non-violent resolutions and supporting victims of assault in their recovery processes.