Doorman switched off camera before knocking customer unconscious and leaving him with brain injury

A customer suffered a serious head injury after being punched by a pub doorman who lost his temper.Adam Lock, 30, was working at the Owain Glyndwr pub in Cardiff city centre on October 30 last year, the same day as a Wales v New Zealand rugby match.

Kevin Penman had been out drinking with friends and was refused entry to the pub by Lock due to his intoxication, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday (October 11).There was an argument between Lock and Mr Penman, but the victim began walking away from the pub, as the defendant could be heard on his own bodyworn camera saying "He comes towards me I'm going to f****** hurt him bro". He then switched off his camera before punching Mr Penman.

The assault however was caught on CCTV. As Mr Penman walked off on St John Street, Lock followed him and threw a single punch at his head, causing him to fall to the floor and hit his head hard on the concrete. He was knocked unconscious as the defendant stood over him and said "That's what you get for coming at me".Prosecutor, Ffion Tomos, described how witnesses stood 10 metres away could hear Mr Penman's head thud on the pavement as another passerby told Lock he "should be ashamed of himself" as there were children stood nearby. He also knocked a phone out of someone's hand as they tried to film him.Mr Penman was taken to hospital to receive treatment for a serious head injury, and had no recollection of the assault. He underwent a CT scan and was found to have suffered a bleed around the brain, contusion to the left side of the brain, swelling and bleeding to the nose and and swelling to the back of his head. He was released from hospital two days later.In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Penman said the injury he received resulted in his driving licence being revoked and he was left unable to work as a HGV driver. He said: "I always thought of myself as a confident and resilient man having served in the Army but the assault in October has knocked my confidence in a way I did not think was possible."He said he had been told he may not be able to return to work for two years and was having to use savings to help him pay household bills. Mr Penman also said he has difficulty sleeping and was unable to leave the house for a month after the attack.

Lock, of Springwood, Llanedeyrn, was arrested and claimed he had acted in self defence but this was disproved by the CCTV footage which showed Mr Penman backing away when the punch was thrown. He later pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm. The court heard he had convictions relating to drugs; drunken and disorderly behaviour; and a caution for a public order matter.In mitigation, David Pinnell said his client was suspended and dismissed from his job as a doorman as a result of the assault and will never work in the security industry again. He had obtained employment as a delivery driver for a building merchant but was also dismissed from that role due to the impending conviction, but he has an offer of further employment should he not be sent to prison.Further mitigation made on his behalf revealed Lock's mother died in 2021 which caused him to struggle with his mental health, and he is a father to four children. He also works in the community as a football coach.Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: "Your reaction to (the victim) was wholly wrong. One of the people who writes on your behalf says you acted professionally at all times. That individual is deluded and does you no favours. Your reaction by switching off your bodyworn camera and pursuing Mr Penman was entirely unjustified and when you punched him that was also entirely unjustified."Lock was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of eight days and to pay court costs of £900.