**Cardiff Masseuse Survives Brutal Hammer Attack by Client in Shocking Ordeal**
A Cardiff masseuse was left traumatised and deeply injured after a horrifying and violent assault during what should have been a routine appointment. The attacker, a male client, struck without warning, leaving his victim fearing for her life throughout the ordeal.
The incident, which took place at the Royal Orchid Thai Massage parlour in Cardiff on 17 February last year, saw Orawan Thomas, working alone at the premises, subjected to a frenzied assault by Connor Probert, aged 26. Probert, who had booked the appointment as a client, arrived with a hammer hidden in his backpack—a fact that would soon prove to have devastating consequences.
According to evidence presented at Cardiff Crown Court, the massage session initially passed without incident. However, events took a violent turn when Ms Thomas turned her back. Suddenly, Probert grabbed her and landed a hammer blow to her head. The attack continued relentlessly, with Probert repeatedly striking Ms Thomas as she bled heavily and slipped in and out of consciousness.
Despite the brutality, Ms Thomas fought back with remarkable courage. In the chaos, she managed to seize the hammer and defend herself, only for Probert to grab her wrist and struggle for control of the weapon. The violence escalated further as Probert began to strangle Ms Thomas, pushing her to the floor in a clamp-like grip that left her gasping for breath and facing the real possibility of death. In her own words, Ms Thomas later recounted how she believed she was going to be killed during the sustained attack.
Ms Thomas’s ordeal did not end there. Dizzy and injured, she cleverly tried to de-escalate the situation, asking for a drink in an effort to buy herself a precious moment to recover. Probert, still grasping the hammer, momentarily let go of her neck to search his bag for a drink. This pause proved crucial as a knock at the door signalled the arrival of Ms Thomas’s son and daughter-in-law. In the ensuing confusion, she managed to escape Probert’s grip and alert her family members, telling them that her attacker had tried to kill her.
Probert retreated into a bathroom as police were summoned to the scene. Ms Thomas was taken to the University Hospital of Wales where she was treated for three deep wounds — one atop her head, another to the side, and one on her ear requiring stitches. She also suffered soft tissue injuries to her neck and hands, further evidence of the ferocity of the assault.
At his sentencing, Probert, of Vicarage Road, Penygraig, Tonypandy, pleaded guilty to charges including wounding with intent, grievous bodily harm, intentional strangulation, and possession of an offensive weapon. With no previous convictions, Probert expressed shock at his own actions and failed to provide a reason for the attack.
A harrowing victim impact statement was read out in court, detailing Ms Thomas’s ongoing suffering. She wrote of her struggle to return to work, the constant fear that now accompanies her, and the significant impact on her physical and mental well-being. Having endured post-polio syndrome prior to the attack, Ms Thomas says her symptoms have worsened, her speech and sleep have been affected, and she now finds herself unable to trust new male clients, only working with those she knows.
Her words painted a stark portrait of the lasting psychological trauma: “I genuinely believed he was going to kill me and feared for my life for the duration of the time I was in that room…I am scared to go out alone and being alone in general…I will now live in fear of what happened to me and what I survived.”
The judge, Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, imposed a life sentence on Probert, with a minimum term of four years and two months before he will be considered for release. A lifetime restraining order was also put in place for Ms Thomas’s future protection. The judge recognised Probert’s diagnosis of autism, though stated it did not contribute to the offence, and commented on his lack of empathy for the victim.
This incident not only highlights the dangers some service workers face, particularly those working alone, but also prompts a wider conversation on workplace safety, trauma recovery, and the importance of robust support for victims of violent crime. As Ms Thomas attempts to rebuild her life, her courage in facing her attacker and sharing her ordeal serves as a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of unimaginable violence.