Machete swung at people outside Cardiff city centre hotel

Khoresh Ameni, 19, was caught waving the weapon on CCTV and was later found in possession of cannabis.

A teenager swung a machete at a group of people outside a hotel in Cardiff city centre and was caught on CCTV. When he was arrested and searched by police, he was found in possession of cannabis.

Khoresh Ameni, 19, armed himself with the weapon on December 7 last year and became involved in an incident outside the Ibis hotel in Churchill Way. The police were called and CCTV was viewed which showed the defendant waving the machete at four people.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday heard Ameni was later arrested and was found in possession of a cannabis joint. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The footage revealed some of the other men involved in the incident were also armed.

The defendant was taken to Cardiff Bay police station and was interviewed but he answered “no comment” to all questions.

Ameni, of Churchill Way, later pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and possession of a class B drug.

The court heard he has one previous conviction for offences including section 18 wounding and possession of a bladed article.

Prosecutor Ben Jones said the defendant was sentenced to a detention and training order for 20 months, which he is now in breach of.

In mitigation, Kevin Seal said his client had been unable to work due to his immigration status and had become alienated from his family, but he is hoping to move to the Midlands to stay with an uncle.

The defence barrister said Ameni suffered trauma during his childhood, which left him unable to cope with day to day life and resorting to violence when facing conflict.

Sentencing, Recorder Paul Lewis KC said: “The way you’re going, you are going to face longer and longer and longer periods of custody.

“Your behaviour at the moment poses a risk of violence in the future. It’s in your hands if you continue down that path or not.”

Ameni was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

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