‘Be careful, you can’t stop a dozer’
An angry drinker who used a stolen vintage bulldozer to ram a pub after a heated argument has been sentenced to 40 months in prison.
Daniel Morgan, of Aberdare in south Wales, “saw red” and carried out the targeted attack on The New Inn in Cefn Rhigos after being taunted by patrons about his recent divorce.
A trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that the 35-year-old had been struggling with the collapse of his marriage, fuelled by a daily habit of six pints of beer and cocaine use.
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On the night of the incident last December, Morgan became enraged by comments made at the pub regarding his separation and his “mistaken suspicions” that his former partner had been unfaithful.
Before the attack, Morgan sent chilling text messages to the landlord, Christopher Common, warning him: “Be careful, you can’t stop a dozer” and “It will be a drive-thru”.
Morgan stole a Hanomag d600 bulldozer from his father’s farm and began the slow trek toward the village.
His father, Phillip Morgan, acted quickly to prevent a tragedy. He raced ahead to the pub to warn the landlord, allowing customers to evacuate just before the heavy machinery arrived.
After Morgan smashed the bulldozer into the pub’s front porch – causing over £22,000 in damage – he attempted to drive toward his estranged wife’s home, crushing another vehicle in his path.
The rampage was only stopped when his father used a separate digger to smash the bulldozer’s dashboard, disabling the controls.
Morgan was kept in the cab as police officers arrived at the scene. He was bleeding from his head and appeared to be extremely intoxicated.
Wales Online reports that while receiving treatment at University Hospital Wales, Morgan told medical staff: “This is all because my ex hasn’t let me see the kids. It’s been three weeks and now I definitely won’t be able to see them.”
He also said: “My mum won’t be able to work in [the pub] anymore – or what’s left of it”.
Morgan previously pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and criminal damage recklessly endangering life. In addition to his prison sentence, Morgan has been banned from driving for 39 months.
Judge Celia Hughes noted that while Morgan was a “hard-working” man acting out of character during a mental breakdown, his actions were “deliberate” and caused “great fear” to the community. She concluded that Morgan was “extremely fortunate” that his actions did not result in serious injury or death.
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