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| Drunk 'Darth Vader' spared jail | Drunk 'Darth Vader' spared jail |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A man has been given a suspended jail sentence for attacking two Star Wars fans while posing as Darth Vader. | |
| Arwel Wynn Hughes, 27, from Holyhead, Anglesey, admitted assaulting Barney Jones and cousin Michael with a metal crutch, whilst shouting "Darth Vader". | Arwel Wynn Hughes, 27, from Holyhead, Anglesey, admitted assaulting Barney Jones and cousin Michael with a metal crutch, whilst shouting "Darth Vader". |
| Hughes told police he had no memory of the incident as he was drunk. | Hughes told police he had no memory of the incident as he was drunk. |
| District Judge Andrew Straw said the publicity his case had received was perhaps a good thing, and a "wake up call" to deal with his alcohol problem. | District Judge Andrew Straw said the publicity his case had received was perhaps a good thing, and a "wake up call" to deal with his alcohol problem. |
| Diane Williams, prosecuting, said the two cousins had set up a Jedi faith church with around 30 local members in the Holyhead area. | Diane Williams, prosecuting, said the two cousins had set up a Jedi faith church with around 30 local members in the Holyhead area. |
| On 25 March they were being filmed fighting with light sabres in a garden in Holyhead when Hughes jumped over a wall. | On 25 March they were being filmed fighting with light sabres in a garden in Holyhead when Hughes jumped over a wall. |
| Perhaps the publicity surrounding your case has been a good thing, and is the wake-up call you need to deal with your problems District judge Andrew Shaw | Perhaps the publicity surrounding your case has been a good thing, and is the wake-up call you need to deal with your problems District judge Andrew Shaw |
| "He was wearing a black bin liner, had a cut to his face and had in his hand a crutch - which he did not need to walk as he was holding it in the air," Ms Williams said. | "He was wearing a black bin liner, had a cut to his face and had in his hand a crutch - which he did not need to walk as he was holding it in the air," Ms Williams said. |
| "He shouted Darth Vader several times before hitting Barney Jones on the back of his head and then he hit Michael Jones to his leg." | |
| Hughes then laughed, said he was joking and ran off, she added. | Hughes then laughed, said he was joking and ran off, she added. |
| Later when arrested by police he told them that he was "extremely drunk" at the time, she said. | Later when arrested by police he told them that he was "extremely drunk" at the time, she said. |
| Barney Jones had suffered a headache after the attack, and Michael Jones a bruised leg. | Barney Jones had suffered a headache after the attack, and Michael Jones a bruised leg. |
| Publicity | Publicity |
| Mrs Frances Jones defending said her client had a "serious alcohol problem". | Mrs Frances Jones defending said her client had a "serious alcohol problem". |
| "He has previously stopped drinking but the rehab he has needed has not been available," Mrs Jones said. | "He has previously stopped drinking but the rehab he has needed has not been available," Mrs Jones said. |
| "But now a place has become available at Touchstone in Colwyn Bay." | "But now a place has become available at Touchstone in Colwyn Bay." |
| Arwel Wynn Hughes after a previous hearing | Arwel Wynn Hughes after a previous hearing |
| Mrs Jones argued that allowing Hughes to access treatment would help rather than just punish him, as similar treatment was not available in prison. | Mrs Jones argued that allowing Hughes to access treatment would help rather than just punish him, as similar treatment was not available in prison. |
| Judge Shaw told Hughes there had been an element of premeditation in the assaults because he had been wearing the bin bag, and had a weapon. | Judge Shaw told Hughes there had been an element of premeditation in the assaults because he had been wearing the bin bag, and had a weapon. |
| That he would be caught had been "inevitable" the judge added. | That he would be caught had been "inevitable" the judge added. |
| "Perhaps the publicity surrounding your case has been a good thing, and is the wake-up call you need to deal with your problems," he said. | "Perhaps the publicity surrounding your case has been a good thing, and is the wake-up call you need to deal with your problems," he said. |
| The judge said despite his "genuine efforts" to change however the attack had been sufficiently serious to warrant a jail sentence. | The judge said despite his "genuine efforts" to change however the attack had been sufficiently serious to warrant a jail sentence. |
| Hughes was sentenced to two months suspended for 12 months, with supervision and residence requirements overseen by the probation service. | |
| He was also ordered to pay £100 to each of his two victims and prosecution costs of £60. | He was also ordered to pay £100 to each of his two victims and prosecution costs of £60. |
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