A community care worker in Mountain Ash was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a vulnerable man pointed a deactivated air rifle at her head during a routine welfare visit, a Cardiff Crown Court hearing has revealed. Natasha Grimes, who works for the housing organisation Hafod, had attended Christopher Rees’ flat with a colleague to check on his wellbeing. Instead, she found herself fearing for her life.
The incident unfolded on 18 June of the previous year, when Grimes and fellow care worker Maria Evans visited Rees’ property as part of their regular support duties. Rees, aged 47, reportedly locked the two workers inside his flat shortly after their arrival and quickly became agitated, displaying visible signs of distress.
Inside the living room, the women’s unease heightened upon noticing a collection of knives and samurai swords, as well as two air rifles mounted by the fireplace. Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins described how the tense atmosphere worsened as Rees began to complain about ongoing disputes with a neighbour. During the discussion, he made cryptic remarks suggesting he could “use a few shots and everyone would give him a quiet life”, which left the carers on edge.
Matters escalated when Rees began discussing his mental state and referred to hypothetical scenarios involving shooting squirrels in the roof. It was at this point that he seized one of the display air rifles and pointed it directly at Ms Grimes’ face from close range. According to court testimony, Rees appeared extremely angry and expressed resentment towards his neighbour in explicit language.
Grimes later recalled in a victim impact statement that she was gripped by terror, at one point genuinely believing she was about to be shot. “Never in my life have I felt so scared as I did trapped in someone’s house with a gun held to my head,” she wrote. During this fraught confrontation, Rees told Ms Grimes, “I want you to feel as scared as I do”, a statement which prosecutors argued was intended to instil maximum fear.
Thankfully, after a tense apology, Rees unlocked the door, enabling Grimes and Evans to leave the premises in distress. Police responded promptly to the subsequent emergency call, confiscating a deactivated Russian-style air rifle and a second similar weapon from the property. Rees was taken into custody at the scene.
Rees, of Duffryn Street in Mountain Ash, admitted to possession of an imitation firearm with the intent to cause fear of violence. The court was told he had a previous caution for criminal damage, but no prior convictions of a similar nature.
In mitigation, Rees’ solicitor Hywel Davies described his client as struggling with significant mental health difficulties at the time of the offence. Davies explained that after Rees’ arrest, he spent time in hospital due to concerns regarding his wellbeing, drawing attention to the wider pressures faced by individuals living with mental health challenges.
Judge Shomon Khan, upon sentencing, acknowledged the traumatic impact on the victims and highlighted that “to any ordinary member of the public, [the air rifle] would have looked real”. The judge also noted that Grimes and her colleague had simply been “doing their job” and aimed only to help, underscoring the risks frontline workers can unexpectedly encounter during what should be routine visits.
Rees received a prison sentence of one year and four months. Owing to the time he had already spent remanded in custody, he is expected to be released in the near future.
The case serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by those working in social care, especially when supporting vulnerable adults with complex needs. Grimes has described lasting anxiety and hypervigilance as a result of the incident, stating that it has changed her approach to her profession. She expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from her family, partner, and colleagues as she endeavours to move forward from the experience.
The sentencing also highlights the vital importance of safeguarding the wellbeing of care workers, as well as providing adequate support for people struggling with mental health issues to prevent such frightening confrontations in the future.