AN OAP has suffered horrific injuries after a “psycho” neighbour left him for dead in a street attack outside their homes.
Retired roofer Lyndon Griffiths was found covered in blood with appalling bruising and swelling after being “pounded” in the assault.
The 78-year-old was on his way home from the shop when he was Ashley Morris set upon him.
Morris, 39, repeatedly punched and kicked Lyndon in the head – knocking him unconscious – before leaving him for dead in the street.
The OAP said the thug had “picked on me for years” and had received a series of threats from his neighbour.
But on this particular day, threats turned to violence when the dad and grandad was jumped after parking his car near his home in Brackla, Bridgend.
South Wales Police described Morris’s assault as a “brutal and unprovoked attack”.
The force said: “The victim had just been to his local shop and parked his car when Morris walked up to him and told him to ‘smile now’.”
“When the victim asked what he meant, Morris told him that ‘he would make him smile now’ before launching a vicious attack.
Morris reportedly punched his victim to the floor, pinned him down and repeatedly beat him – targeting his head and face.
He then proceeded to kick him vigorously while the helpless man was still on the floor.
Cops said the victim then “struggled” to his feet and stumbled to a family member’s house where they contacted emergency services.
They said: “Covered in blood, the victim struggled to his feet after Morris stopped his attack and left the scene. He managed to get to a family member’s house nearby and contacted the police.”
Morris later admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for 42 months at Cardiff Crown Court.
Speaking about his terrifying ordeal, Lyndon said: “I turned around and the next thing I knew I was waking up on the floor with him on top of me pounding my face.
“When he got off I thought he had gone so I lifted my head up and ‘bang’, that’s when I felt the boot go in three or four times and I was knocked out again.
“He then left me for dead.”
When the OAP was in hospital, he said he suffered three seizures.
He added: “The doctor said I was very lucky because if I had had them in the car before I got to hospital I wouldn’t be here now.”
Lyndon, who has lived on the estate all his life and tends to the community garden, described Morris as a “psycho” and said he was worried about what could happen when he is free.
He said: “He is a very dangerous man. He’s not well and he needs locking up.”
Speaking after the sentence, Detective Constable Georgina Prince said: “Ashley Morris subjected his elderly neighbour to a brutal and sustained attack which was totally unprovoked.”
“He left his victim for dead on the floor before returning to his flat as though nothing had happened. There has never been any sense of remorse.
“He is a dangerous individual and belongs in prison where he can no longer be a threat to others.”
“I would like to commend the victim in this case who showed immense bravery throughout his ordeal. I hope he can take some comfort from knowing that his attacker will spend a considerable time in prison.”
