A long-standing disagreement over loud music in a Port Talbot block of flats escalated into violence when a man armed himself with an axe and attacked his neighbour’s front door, a court has heard.
Dean Williams, 57, of Moorland Road in the Sandfields area, appeared before Swansea Crown Court after a heated row concerning noise levels in his flat led to a terrifying confrontation. Prosecutors revealed that Williams not only destroyed a glass panel on his neighbour’s front door but also brandished the weapon while making threats, demanding the man come out to face him.
The incident unfolded in April 2025, against the backdrop of ongoing frustrations simmering between Williams and the resident living in the flat directly above him. On the night of 21 April, the complainant was reportedly unable to sleep, disturbed by excessively loud music coming from Williams’ property. Feeling pushed to his limit, he took the step of making a formal complaint the next morning.
When Williams returned home the following evening, it seems he became aware of the complaint against him – and his reaction swiftly turned aggressive. According to the prosecution, neighbours overheard Williams yelling, “Who? Him upstairs? I’ll kill him,” before he stormed up the stairs with intent. Moments later, the startled victim heard the violent smashing of glass coming from his own front door.
Upon investigating, the resident discovered Williams in the hallway, brandishing an axe and shouting demands for him to come out, threatening his life. Understandably, the victim retreated and phoned the police. When officers arrived at the property, they found Williams still holding the axe, appearing, according to prosecutors, to be “under the influence of something”.
Further insight into the ordeal was provided through a statement from the victim, who acknowledged that the confrontation had not come as a complete surprise. He described having endured ongoing anxiety in anticipation of a serious incident, and when the attack arrived, he genuinely feared for his life. Despite feeling relief when the police intervened, he admitted concern about potential retaliation orchestrated by associates of Williams.
The court was told that the material cost of the damage to the housing association flat ranged between £400 and £500. However, the emotional toll on residents exposed to such violence, particularly within their homes, is harder to quantify but should not be underestimated. No charges of making threats to kill ultimately proceeded, with Williams pleading guilty to criminal damage and threatening another person with a bladed article instead.
It emerged during sentencing that Williams had a substantial criminal record, totalling 19 previous convictions for 32 offences. These included incidents of battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and prior offences involving bladed weapons. Williams’ defence advocate, Stuart John, asserted that his client had little recollection of the night’s events, suggesting that excessive alcohol consumption may have contributed to this lack of memory as well as to the overall decline in Williams’ behaviour.
John conveyed that Williams, at 57, recognised the need for change in his life and indicated that a stint in prison could prove beneficial to his rehabilitation. Nevertheless, Judge Catherine Richards was not persuaded that previous court orders had led to meaningful improvements in Williams’ conduct or that a realistic prospect of immediate rehabilitation existed.
Taking into account Williams’ guilty pleas, which afforded a one-quarter reduction to his sentence, Judge Richards handed down a custodial term of 21 months. Williams is required to serve 40 per cent of his sentence in prison before being released on licence, during which time he will remain under supervision in the community.
This case is yet another example of how neighbourhood disputes, left unresolved, can spiral into dangerous territory, with significant repercussions for all involved. Legal authorities continue to urge residents facing persistent antisocial behaviour to seek mediation and support before matters become critical.