Victim of terrifying daylight robbery says attacker shouldn't have been jailed

Damian Slowik was punched and choked by 21-year-old Bailey Hanlon successful a wide daylight robbery successful Cardiff's Bute Park. Hanlon was this week locked up but his unfortunate feels it won't assistance him

A antheral who was subjected to a terrifying daylight robbery has said his attacker should not beryllium down bars.

Damian Slowik, 32, was sitting connected a seat in Cardiff's Bute Park erstwhile helium was brutally attacked by 21-year-old Bailey Hanlon, who repeatedly punched him portion an accomplice stole his bike. The incidental unfolded adjacent Cardiff Castle astir 4pm connected July 1.

Despite managing to clasp Hanlon for astir 15 minutes, some Hanlon and his accomplice Seren Hassan-Lowe, 19, managed to flight earlier the constabulary arrived. Though near severely bruised, Mr Slowik said the worst interaction has been connected his mental health, and helium has suffered panic attacks and taken antidepressants since the robbery.

Last week, Hassan-Lowe received a suspended condemnation and rehabilitation activity, portion Hanlon, who was besides sentenced for driving offences, was fixed 3 years successful a young offender's unit. But Mr Slowik, who ne'er recovered his £1,000 motorcycle and had to regenerate £300 glasses breached successful the attack, said helium would person preferred Hanlon to beryllium ordered to bash unpaid enactment and wage him compensation.

He told Wales Online: "He has already been locked up before. He near custody past went retired and robbed a person. It seems helium knows nary different mode than robbing radical oregon participating successful crime. I would similar him to beryllium ordered to spell to enactment and get a sensation of what it is similar to beryllium a man. A antheral is simply a moving man, not 1 who robs people. Now your and my taxes person to sponsor his manner successful prison."

The Wetherspoons room worker, who had saved up to spend his bike, doubts Hanlon's chances of rehabilitation owed to wide known issues of drugs rampant successful British prisons. He said: "It is easier to get drugs connected the wrong than outside. I'm conscionable a spot bittersweet due to the fact that I don't cognize if helium has household but astatine Christmas helium volition beryllium surrounded by radical taking drugs. He needs to beryllium shown thing different, however to gain wealth the ineligible way, however it is imaginable to person bully things. I privation him to sweat and get callouses and spot what it is similar to wage taxes."

Mr Slowik, who was physically abused arsenic a kid and says helium struggled astatine schoolhouse successful Poland owed to ADHD (attention shortage hyperactivity disorder), ended his acquisition separated from different pupils due to the fact that helium was deemed a hazard to others. Relating it to his ain experiences, helium said: "I could person ended up successful situation but I near that beingness down erstwhile I got connected a level arsenic an 18-year-old with conscionable a backpack. I started washing dishes successful a pub successful Cardiff with nary English connection skills. It outgo maine to beryllium wherever I am. It is imaginable to permission everything behind, adjacent the radical who wounded you, but you request to privation to change. Nobody is going to unit you."

He antecedently expressed vexation that constabulary allegedly did not get astatine Bute Park until 40 minutes aft a witness' 999 telephone contempt the Cardiff Central constabulary presumption being a abbreviated locomotion away. But helium praised South Wales Police's enactment successful catching the 2 culprits, and said "the probe they did was great". Damian added: "I would similar to accidental a large acknowledgment to constabulary and the witnesser who stayed with maine erstwhile astir radical walked away."

Hanlon, from the Cardiff suburb of Heath, admitted the robbery arsenic good arsenic a bid of offences from an incidental six days aft the Bute Park onslaught — taking a conveyance without consent, unsafe driving, failing to supply a humor sample, and driving portion disqualified. He had stolen an Audi and driven it on Grangetown's Clare Road earlier crashing. Within 3 months of merchandise from his three-year word successful a young offender portion helium indispensable wage a £228 unfortunate services surcharge.

Hassan-Lowe, 19, from Grangetown, admitted robbery. She was sentenced to 12 months successful a young offender portion suspended for 2 years arsenic good arsenic 25 days of rehabilitation enactment and a £187 unfortunate services surcharge.