A TEENAGER from Barry who committed a series of violent offences in the town and admitted to a psychiatrist that he “takes comfort from hurting people” has been sentenced to two years in a young offender institution.
Keira Richards, 18, of no fixed abode, was sentenced for 14 offences, including spitting at one police officer and kicking another in the groin.
Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court, Richards pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault of an emergency worker, harassment and criminal damage. The offences were committed when he was aged between 16 and 18.
The court heard that on 6th August 2024, Richards threatened to kill a woman with a shard of glass and told her husband he was going to slit her throat.
Richards blamed the couple for him having spent long periods of time in police custody during the previous days and wrote, “I will kill you” in blackberry juice on one of their windows before threatening them outside their house.
Mari Watkins, prosecuting, told the court: “After the wife went into their house, the defendant told her husband: ’I’m going to kill your wife – get her out here’.
“He had a shard of glass, and he said he was going to slit her throat.
“The defendant told him: That’s a nice car. He then scratched his initials into the vehicle. He continued to taunt the couple until the police arrived.”
Richards has a personality disorder and had spent the previous 256 days prior to the hearing in custody. Leah Pollard, mitigating on behalf of Richards, asked the judge to take into account her client’s difficult upbringing and the lengthy delay in the case reaching court. She said: “He does want to turn his life around.”
Judge Simon Mills told Richards that he had “started a mini war with society”.
Richards was sentenced to two years in a young offender institution, but with time already served, he is likely to be released back into society soon.
By Marcus Stead – News Reporter
News, Letters, Sport and advertising are welcomed by the Glamorgan Star – the largest newspaper or magazine in the Vale of Glamorgan. Contact us today here.
- Prolific thief banned from entering shops in Barry
- Man is sentenced for ‘swatting’
- Notorious murderer has prison sentence extended for laundering drug money
- Porthcawl man is jailed for concealing mother’s death
- Serial shoplifter receives suspended sentence
- Barry shoplifter back behind bars
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
