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Ice hockey player locked up after attacking partner
Apr 22 2010 by Emma Williams, Glamorgan Gazette Bridgend
AN up-and-coming ice hockey star assaulted his girlfriend after finding texts from another man on her mobile phone.
Corey Watkins, of Kimberley Court, near Brackla, was sentenced to 26 weeks at a young offenders’ institute for throwing random punches at his student partner. The 20-year-old, who plays as a forward for Cardiff Devils, appeared before Bridgend magistrates and admitted assaulting Talitha Ryan.
Yuk Lam, prosecuting, said the couple were in the bedroom at the home Watkins shared with his parents at 2.30am on February 22.
Mr Lam said: “There was an argument. Watkins had checked her text messages and it was clear she was being unfaithful. He pushed her and she hit the wall.”
The prosecutor said Miss Ryan was thrown to the ground in anger and subjected to abuse. As the dispute continued, “she put her hands and arms up to protect her and he randomly punched her”.
After the argument subsided, Watkins took his victim to her home, where there was another argument, he left and police were called. They saw that Miss Ryan had suffered bruises to her face and cuts to her hands.
The court heard Watkins had no previous convictions but had been issued with a caution for occasioning actual bodily harm in October 2009 after the same victim suffered bruises and a suspected broken hand. No statement was made at the time and police decided a caution was appropriate.
Spiro Grach, defending, said: “He is very fond of this lady. He was seeing another lady and she was jealous and upset. She went to see another gentleman but the two of them got back together.
“On the night in question there was a text from the man she was seeing earlier. Mr Watkins said he simply lost control when he saw his (the man’s) name. He drove her home because he had done wrong and was extremely sorry for what had happened.
“He is a reasonably intelligent young man and his intention is to become a professional ice hockey player. He went to Canada to train and returned in 2008.
“He was here playing hockey because of this young lady. Now he says there’s no reason for him to be here. His future should lie in Canada because he has more prospects of employment there.
“He is not a violent man and is not likely to embark on this course of action again. Regarding his previous caution, as far as I know she suffered no injury and they carried on seeing each other.”
The court heard Watkins was now claiming job seeker’s allowance as the UK ice hockey season had finished.
Court chairman Keith Jones said: “It was a serious assault and was so serious that only custody is appropriate.
“There were numerous punches thrown.”
When contacted by the Gazette, Shannon Hope, the Devils’ director of hockey, said: “I do not know the circumstances but this is not something we are pleased about and is not something we condone.”
Mr Hope described Watkins as “an up and coming player” but when asked whether the sentence would affect his career he said: “We will have to look at that.”
Apr 22 2010 by Emma Williams, Glamorgan Gazette Bridgend
AN up-and-coming ice hockey star assaulted his girlfriend after finding texts from another man on her mobile phone.
Corey Watkins, of Kimberley Court, near Brackla, was sentenced to 26 weeks at a young offenders’ institute for throwing random punches at his student partner. The 20-year-old, who plays as a forward for Cardiff Devils, appeared before Bridgend magistrates and admitted assaulting Talitha Ryan.
Yuk Lam, prosecuting, said the couple were in the bedroom at the home Watkins shared with his parents at 2.30am on February 22.
Mr Lam said: “There was an argument. Watkins had checked her text messages and it was clear she was being unfaithful. He pushed her and she hit the wall.”
The prosecutor said Miss Ryan was thrown to the ground in anger and subjected to abuse. As the dispute continued, “she put her hands and arms up to protect her and he randomly punched her”.
After the argument subsided, Watkins took his victim to her home, where there was another argument, he left and police were called. They saw that Miss Ryan had suffered bruises to her face and cuts to her hands.
The court heard Watkins had no previous convictions but had been issued with a caution for occasioning actual bodily harm in October 2009 after the same victim suffered bruises and a suspected broken hand. No statement was made at the time and police decided a caution was appropriate.
Spiro Grach, defending, said: “He is very fond of this lady. He was seeing another lady and she was jealous and upset. She went to see another gentleman but the two of them got back together.
“On the night in question there was a text from the man she was seeing earlier. Mr Watkins said he simply lost control when he saw his (the man’s) name. He drove her home because he had done wrong and was extremely sorry for what had happened.
“He is a reasonably intelligent young man and his intention is to become a professional ice hockey player. He went to Canada to train and returned in 2008.
“He was here playing hockey because of this young lady. Now he says there’s no reason for him to be here. His future should lie in Canada because he has more prospects of employment there.
“He is not a violent man and is not likely to embark on this course of action again. Regarding his previous caution, as far as I know she suffered no injury and they carried on seeing each other.”
The court heard Watkins was now claiming job seeker’s allowance as the UK ice hockey season had finished.
Court chairman Keith Jones said: “It was a serious assault and was so serious that only custody is appropriate.
“There were numerous punches thrown.”
When contacted by the Gazette, Shannon Hope, the Devils’ director of hockey, said: “I do not know the circumstances but this is not something we are pleased about and is not something we condone.”
Mr Hope described Watkins as “an up and coming player” but when asked whether the sentence would affect his career he said: “We will have to look at that.”
