This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-23001147

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jack Widdowson trial: Attacker guilty of assault Jack Widdowson trial: 13 years in jail for ballet dancer's attacker
(35 minutes later)
A man has been found guilty of assaulting a ballet dancer. A man who attacked a ballet dancer, broke his neck and left him lying in the street has been jailed for 13 years.
Jack Widdowson, 19, from Somerset, had his neck broken in the attack by Mohammed Ali Mohamoed, 27, in Cardiff in November 2011. Jack Widdowson, 19, from Somerset, was assaulted by Mohammed Ali Mohamoed, 27, on a disused canal towpath in Cardiff.
Mohamoed, of Splott, Cardiff, attacked Mr Widdowson on a towpath near a disused canal parallel with East Tyndall Street. Mohamoed, of Splott, Cardiff, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but cleared of attempted murder.
He was sentenced to 13 years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Eight months later Mr Widdowson was able to dance again.
Eight months after the attack, Mr Widdowson was dancing again in what his family called a "miracle" recovery. His family called it a "miracle" recovery.
Mohamoed was cleared of attempted murder but found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent. Mr Widdowson, an apprentice dancer at the Bern Ballet Company in Switzerland, had performed two days before the attack on 5 November 2011.
Mr Widdowson is an apprentice dancer at the Bern Ballet Company in Switzerland and had performed two days, His mobile phone was stolen and he was left for dead on the outskirts of the city centre near East Tyndall Street at 00:45.
Mr Widdowson's mobile phone was stolen and he was left for dead in the street. He had been visiting his brother who was studying at Cardiff University.
He was attacked while visiting his brother who was studying at Cardiff University on Saturday 5 November 2011 at around 00:45 in the Bute Terrace area. Mohamoed admitted stealing his phone at the trial at Cardiff Crown Court but claimed someone else must have hurt him.
Mohamoed admitted stealing his phone but claimed someone else must have hurt him.
Prosecutor Michael Mather-Lees QC told Mohamoed: "You broke his neck, then you lied to police because you realised you had committed a dreadful offence."Prosecutor Michael Mather-Lees QC told Mohamoed: "You broke his neck, then you lied to police because you realised you had committed a dreadful offence."
Mohamoed had denied attempted murder and an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
After the attack, it was feared Mr Widdowson would be paralysed.After the attack, it was feared Mr Widdowson would be paralysed.
He told BBC Wales ballet was his "passion" and the attack made him more determined than ever to succeed.He told BBC Wales ballet was his "passion" and the attack made him more determined than ever to succeed.
His father Dr Julian Widdowson told BBC Wales his "incredible flexibility" may have saved his life and aided his "miracle" recovery. His father Dr Julian Widdowson said his "incredible flexibility" may have saved his life and aided his "miracle" recovery.
Just eight months after he almost died, Mr Widdowson was dancing again. Mr Widdowson's rehabilitation treatments included hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions which he described as "long and difficult".
Judge Justice Wyn Williams sentenced Mohamoed to 13 years and ordered he be deported after serving his sentence.
The judge told him: "You left him lying in the street which was callous in the extreme. You are a dangerous offender."
After sentencing, Det Con Mike Owens, from South Wales Police, said: "Jack Widdowson had been enjoying a night out with family and friends when he was subjected to a shocking level of violence - the level which we rarely see in Cardiff.
"Amazingly Jack, who is such a talented young man, has made a full recovery and we are delighted that he is back dancing again.
"Today's decision will hopefully allow Jack and his family to finally put this incident behind them."