A 44-year-old man from Bridgend has been sentenced to a year in prison following a violent and unexpected assault on another resident at a temporary accommodation facility. The incident, which took place at a property operated by the Kerrigan Project, shed light on a disturbing series of actions that left the victim distressed and seriously injured.
The event occurred on 10 May, when Stuart Curtis, who resided at the same address, approached his fellow tenant in the back area of the property. According to evidence presented in Newport Crown Court, Curtis first asked the other man if he could borrow his mobile phone. However, the victim responded that he no longer had a phone, having recently sold it.
What began as a seemingly innocuous interaction quickly escalated. The court heard that Curtis, unprovoked, began verbally abusing the victim, calling him a “nonce” before physically attacking him. The defendant landed several punches to the other man’s face. In the ensuing chaos, as the victim attempted to defend himself, Curtis intensified the attack, biting the man on the finger and placing him in a forceful headlock.
Prosecutor Cat Jones described the situation as particularly dangerous, labelling the choke hold as a “choke hold” that left the victim struggling for air and unable to break free. Witnesses at the scene reportedly observed the victim’s condition deteriorate rapidly—detailed as “turning blue”—while Curtis maintained the stranglehold for several minutes.
During the sustained assault, which lasted around ten minutes, Curtis reportedly continued to punch the victim. When authorities responded to reports of the attack, they discovered Curtis still present on the premises. Police noted he appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest. In a continuation of the earlier verbal attack, Curtis was heard repeating the derogatory term at the scene.
Curtis subsequently admitted to charges of intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The court was informed that Curtis has a longstanding history of criminal activity, with 20 previous convictions recorded, four of which were related to violence.
During the sentencing, mitigating factors were put forward by Curtis’s defence. The court heard that the defendant struggles with substance misuse issues and has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder linked to adverse childhood experiences. However, Judge Eugene Egan determined the severity and sustained nature of the assault warranted a custodial sentence, imposing a total of 12 months’ imprisonment on Curtis.
Cases such as this inevitably raise concerns about the support and safeguarding provision in shared accommodation settings, particularly where residents present with complex backgrounds and vulnerabilities. The incident further highlights the challenges faced by social services as they balance the need for rehabilitation with the protection of other service users.
As part of broader efforts to monitor local crime and court cases, residents can access regular updates via online community groups and local crime newsletters. The court’s handling of this case has drawn attention to persistent issues of drug use, mental health, and violence in temporary accommodation settings—topics that demand urgent societal and policy-level responses.
The sentencing sends a clear message about the consequences of violent behaviour, reinforcing that such actions will be met with serious repercussions by the justice system. Meanwhile, calls continue for greater support and preventative measures for those at risk of committing or falling victim to similar offences in community accommodations.