A masked teenager who carried out a violent knife attack on two men outside a McDonald’s in Milford Haven has been detained, following a court hearing that laid bare the disturbing details of the incident. The teenager, Macauley Brown, alongside two other youths, accosted two brothers in the early hours outside the fast food restaurant, resulting in a serious stabbing which prosecutors described as “deep.”
The ordeal began in the early hours of 24 August last year, as the two brothers and their friends crossed Victoria Bridge. According to police, Brown—aged 18 at the time—along with Hayden Blockwell and Haydn Ashton, approached in a vehicle and began shouting threats such as “We’ll stab you up,” before leaving the scene briefly.
However, these threats were not left idle. Roughly half an hour later, the same group returned to confront the brothers, this time outside a nearby McDonald’s. Witnesses reported that Brown, masked and brandishing what was described as a “zombie knife” with a six-inch blade, began swinging the weapon while shouting menacing threats.
Matters quickly escalated. Brown struck one of the brothers with a punch to the chin, then continued to threaten as he waved the knife erratically. Prosecutor Helen Randall detailed how Brown then turned to the second sibling, threatening, “I’ll slice you,” before stabbing the victim in the shoulder, causing a wound described by medical professionals as both deep and two centimetres wide. During the incident, Blockwell and Ashton were said to be close by, offering vocal encouragement, while Ashton wielded a metal pole.
After the attack, the three teenagers were reportedly heard “laughing” as they ran from the scene and made their escape in the car. Despite the attempt to flee, their freedom was short-lived. Police managed to apprehend the trio, as well as the driver of the getaway car, within hours of the violent altercation.
The investigation, aided by mobile phone evidence, uncovered various incriminating conversations on Snapchat and via text. Messages referred to the incident, discussed potential police involvement, and indicated plans around possible arrests. In a revealing act of bravado, Brown even scratched “MB was here” into his cell following arrest.
Judge Huw Rees, presiding at Swansea Crown Court, condemned the incident as “mindless violence,” noting the profoundly reckless nature of the stabbing and the potential for fatal consequences had the wound been slightly closer to the neck. The judge further cited concerns over Brown’s history of reported violence, threats, and weapons possession in the community, suggesting that he was known locally for carrying knives.
Legal representatives for the three young men highlighted their ages and personal circumstances. Brown’s defence referenced his recent 18th birthday at the time of the attack, highlighting a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and referencing a lack of emotional maturity. Blockwell’s legal team also pointed to his young age, as well as ADHD and dyslexia, while Ashton was described as remorseful and from a supportive background, with no previous offences.
Following their guilty pleas, the court delivered sentences reflecting both the severity of the attack and the defendants’ involvement. Brown was sentenced to 38 months in a young offenders institution. Blockwell received a 16-month detention order, while Ashton, now 19, was given a 13-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with additional requirements for rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work.
The judge emphasised that while the initial contact on the bridge might have been coincidental, the return attack outside McDonald’s indicated a degree of premeditation. The continued presence of serious youth violence involving weapons has reignited discussions locally about knife crime and community safety, prompting some commentators to call for renewed efforts to support local youth.
Ultimately, the case has cast a sobering spotlight on the consequences of knife crime and the urgent need for intervention measures to address youth violence in Wales and beyond.