Friend discovered gay man lying in blood

Jan 7 2008 by Liz Keen, South Wales Echo

A GAY man was found in a pool of blood in his flat after a night out with his attacker.

Chris Dewhurst was found battered and bleeding by a friend in the early hours of October 4, 2007.

Christopher Sanders, 20, who has pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, had been chatting with Mr Dewhurst at the Splottlands pub earlier that night, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Steve Harmes said: “Mr Dewhurst was in the pub with two female friends and Sanders was chatting to them about holidays in Bulgaria amongst other things.

“During the evening, Mr Dewhurst went home for some money and Sanders asked could he go with him and borrow some cash.

“At the flat he asked one of the flatmates if Mr Dewhurst was gay and was told as far as that man knew, he was not.

“They returned to the pub’s karaoke and for Mr Dewhurst – who later confirmed he is a gay man – that was his last memory.

“Some time later they had returned to the flat and at 4am Mr Dewhurst was making his emergency phone call to one of the female friends he had been with earlier.

“Pictures were later taken of pools of blood she found in his bedroom, of a cut under his eye which needed stitches and of extensive bruising to his face.”

After viewing the pictures Judge Eleri Rees told Sanders’ barrister that she required a psychiatric report before considering what sentence should be passed on Sanders of Chapelwood, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, because she had to consider issues of public protection.

She told the court: “I also want a victim impact statement from Mr Dewhurst about his injuries and the effect this has had on his life.”

She ordered Sanders to return to the court next month.

liz.keen@mediawales.co.uk