Attack victim may need brain surgery

AN EARLIER victim of convicted killer Kyle Dolling's alcohol-fuelled violence escaped with his life, but may now need brain surgery for his injuries, police revealed.

Gareth Pitman, then just 25, was punched, kicked, stamped on and beaten with a pool cue outside Newport bus station in September 2005.

This week, one of the men involved in this brutal assault Kyle Dolling, 20, of Welland Circle, Bettws, was jailed for life for the murder of Wesley Strawbridge, 25.

Dolling, described by Judge Nicholas Cook as "a violent and dangerous man", was also given a four year concurrent sentence for the assault on Mr Pitman.

His actions in the murder bore many of the hallmarks of this earlier attack.

In both, Dolling was armed with a wooden weapon -in the murder, a snapped tree branch, in the bus station assault, a broken pool cue.

In both cases his victim was a 25-year-old man and a young father. Both attacks took place in Newport city centre after Dolling had been out drinking.

And although Gareth Pitman survived his attack, Judge David Morris said, when sentencing Christopher Williams, 21, of Rother Close, Newport, the other man who pleaded guilty to the attack: "It is only by the mercy of the good Lord that Gareth Pitman did not sustain really serious and permanent injuries or even worse."

Williams was sentenced to four years in prison in January.

But more than two years later, Mr Pitman is still suffering black-outs and pain, and may need a brain operation to address these problems.

It is understood he can no longer work, drive or play sport because of his injuries.

Detective Sergeant Justin O'Keeffe, of Gwent Police, was on the investigation team, which initially drew a blank in finding the attackers.

No witnesses came forward and many people who eventually gave evidence told police they feared reprisals.

DS O'Keeffe said: "They were clearly intimidated."

Frustrated, the team showed the footage on Crimewatch and suddenly, people began to come forward identifying the attackers.

Police arrested several people and charged Dolling, Williams and another man, against whom the charges were later dropped.

DS O'Keeffe told the Argus: "This attack involved a gang of thugs who seemed intent on violence.

"As his record shows, Dolling is a violent individual who, when drunk, will resort to any level to inflict harm on others.

"He seemed to get enjoyment from what he did, to the point where he set out to do it on a regular basis."