Glassing victim ‘afraid to go out’ a year on as her attacker still walks free

A young woman glassed in a pub is too afraid to go out a year later – because her attacker is still walking free.

Celyn Williams, 21, had emergency hospital treatment after she had a glass thrown at her, leaving a huge gash in her forehead.

Horrified, Celyn contacted police with the name of her attacker – and was told to wait for updates.

But she was informed that police were unable to take the probe further due to a lack of witnesses and poor quality CCTV.

Celyn and her mum Emma, 50, were outraged at the decision which they say has left her anxious and unable to go out.

Celyn, of Tonteg, South Wales, said she felt her face going hot after the glass struck her.

She said: ‘I thought I was embarrassed but it was my blood which warmed me and I looked down and there was just blood pouring everywhere, I could taste it in my mouth. I couldn’t see properly because there was all blood in my eyes – it was scary.’

Celyn phoned her mum Emma who came to pick her up – finding her covered head to foot in blood – and drove her to hospital.

Celyn received stitches from a maxillofacial surgeon, with the doctor warning her face could have been paralysed if the cut had been in a slightly different place.

Celyn and her mum contacted police and initially had contact with two officers they described as ‘wonderful’ and ‘thorough’.

Emma said: ‘The impression we were given was ‘let us do our jobs, you have nothing to worry about.”

But after weeks and then months of waiting the family became frustrated at the lack of progress and tried to get updates from officers.

Celyn said: ‘I felt like I was being told off. We felt like we were the criminals and they were working against us, like we were so inconvenient and a waste of their time.’

South Wales Police published an appeal for witnesses in the winter of 2023 but the force notified the family they would not be taking the case forward due to a lack of witnesses and poor quality CCTV.

The family say they asked to see the CCTV twice but have never been allowed to do so.

They have since contacted a solicitor to review he police’s decision not to charge the suspect as part of the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme.

Celyn said: ‘It makes you feel like you are making a song and dance over nothing – it’s not nothing. I get nervous going out – I have been out three times since it happened,’ she said. ‘I used to go out every weekend.’

Emma added: ‘I just want her to have justice – I want her to be able to walk out of here with her head held high and be able to say ‘you did wrong, you did a bad thing to me but I have come out on top.

‘She’s 21, she should be living her best life. This has traumatised her. I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to go through it – to have to fight so hard when you are the victim of a horrific crime.’

South Wales Police said it acknowledged the family’s disappointment at the decision.

Supt Michelle Conquer said: ‘We strive to put the victim at the heart of any investigation and it is disappointing when a positive outcome is not achieved for them.

‘A Victim’s Right to Review is now underway for this matter. This is being conducted by an independent officer who has not been involved with the case previously, to ensure a thorough objective review.

‘We will ensure the victim is fully updated upon its completion. We apologise for the delay in this process. We will ensure the victim is fully updated upon its completion.’

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