They spent Christmas Day drinking in the pub before launching horrific attack

The victim spent more than three weeks in hospital

A Wetherspoons customers was followed out of the pub and attacked in the street by a group of people who had spent Christmas Day morning drinking in the bar, a court has heard. Jorie Rees, Hayley Murphy, Daniel Evans and Jackson Greensalde set upon their victim as he sat on a bench and repeatedly punched and kicked him before making off.

All four defendants have now been locked up for what a judge at Swansea Crown Court described as an attack displaying a “pack mentality”. A fifth individual involved in the incident has not been found and remains at large.

Harry Dickens, prosecuting, told the court that the victim of the assault attended the Potter’s Wheel pub on The Kingsway in Swansea city centre on the morning of Christmas Day last year. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

He said the complainant fell into conversation with an unknown male and subsequently joined him sitting with the four defendants.

The court heard that around midday the complainant went to the toilet where he was assaulted by a male who has not been identified. The complainant then returned to the group and confronted them about being involved in the assault on him before walking out.

The prosecutor said the complainant walked down Dillwyn Street and onto Oxford Street but was followed by the defendants who were shouting at him. Rees, Murphy, Evans and Greenslade continued to follow the man along Oxford Street until he sat down on a bench at which point they “set upon” him with each defendant punching and kicking the man. Mr Dickens said “all parties delivered various blows” but it was not possible to say how many each had delivered or in what order.

The court heard the defendants then walked off and the males were seen to “gesticulating” in the direction of their victim in what the prosecution said was “mocking” behaviour.

The prosecutor said that the following day the victim was taken to Morriston Hospital by ambulance suffering with lacerations and bruises and a “reduced level of consciousness”. He said the man also had a chest infection which the prosecution cannot say was linked to the assault, and said complications developed which mean he ultimately spent more that three weeks in hospital.

Meanwhile the assault had been reported to the police, and the four defendants were identified and arrested. Rees, Murphy, and Evans all answered “no comment” to questions asked in interview.

In his interview, Greenslade said he could not recall the incident. He said he had been in Neath at the time but then added he had been having a psychotic episode, that he did not know his co-defendants, and that he had fought with someone in the pub toilets after they had made an inappropriate sexual remark about children.

Jorie Rees, aged 21, of Margam Road, Taibach, Port Talbot; Jackson Greenslade, aged 32, of Alexandra Road, Swansea city centre; Hayley Murphy, aged 38, of Geiriol Road, Townhill, Swansea; and 29-year-old Daniel Evans, of no fixed abode, had all previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when they appeared in the dock via prison videolink for sentencing. They had originally been charged with robbery but the prosecution offered no evidence in regard to that matter.

Rees has 12 previous convictions for 36 offences including a “large number” of dishonesty matters, and possession of a bladed article. In November last year he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for assaulting emergency workers and was on licence for that matter at the time of the Christmas Day assault.

Greenslade has three previous convictions for six offences including drugs matters, theft, and criminal damage; Murphy has 27 previous convictions for 57 offences including public disorder, assaulting an emergency worker, dishonesty matters, and drug trafficking; Evans has two previous convictions for three offences including possession of a bladed article.

David Singh, for Rees, said it had to be conceded his client had taken part in a “unprovoked group attack” on the vicitm. He said it was acknowledged that at the age of 21, the defendant had already accumulated a significant antecedent record and said it was clear his client was a young man who needs “professional intervention” and is someone “who needs to grow up”.

Emily Bennett, for Evans, said the defendant had previously worked as a painter and decorator and had lived in the Blaenymaes area but currently was without stable accommodation. She said the father-of-one accepted he had been in a “highly emotional” state on the day in question and had consumed alcohol which led him to act in a way which was not usual for him.

Huw Davies, for Greenslade, said his client accepts that his behaviour on Christmas Day 2025 was “appalling”.

Sarah John, for Murphy, said for family reasons linked to her daughter, her client had been at a “low point” on the day in question, and said she was remorseful for her actions.

The barrister asked the court to take into account the defendant’s “difficult background” which included spending time in the care system as a child, and being the victim of domestic violence. Ms John went on to say Murphy had been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Judge Huw Rees said that on December 25 the defendants had not been at home and none of them had been “remotely celebrating the true meaning of Christmas”. He said the foursome along with another unidentified male had set up on their victim “with a pack mentality” and said each was jointly responsible for what happened.

The judge told them: “It goes without saying you need help and support. The best help and support you can get is self-discipline to abide by society’s norms and demands”.

With one-third discounts for their guilty pleas Rees was sentenced to 16 months in prison, Evans to 12 months in prison, and Greenslade to 12 months in prison. With a one-quarter discount for her guilty plea – which was entered later in the court process – Murphy was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The defendants will each serve up to half their sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Each defendant was also made subject to a five-year restraining order banning them from contacting their victim.

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