A man in Cardiff caused chaos at a popular restaurant by throwing tables and bottles at staff. The incident, which occurred at Wagamama in Cardiff city centre, left diners and employees shocked and upset. James Griffiths, 38, engaged in destructive behaviour at the St David’s 2 shopping centre location on October 13, resulting in £4,780 worth of damage. This alarming incident led to a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court where Griffiths faced multiple charges.
Prior to the Wagamama outburst, Griffiths had exhibited troubling behaviour elsewhere. He exposed himself to a nurse while in the hospital and later sexually assaulted a custody officer. Prosecutors detailed these disturbing incidents, along with Griffiths’ verbal abuse and physical assault on a healthcare professional while in police custody at Cardiff Bay police station on October 18. These actions resulted in a string of convictions against him.
During the sentencing, the court heard that Griffiths suffers from a long-standing condition of schizo-affective disorder and had not been compliant with his medication. Despite this, he pleaded guilty to various charges, including sexual assault, assaulting an emergency worker, exposure, affray and criminal damage. In light of his mental health issues, his defence barrister requested a fair and considerate sentence.
Ultimately, the judge, Simon Mills Esq, acknowledged Griffiths’ struggles but emphasized the seriousness of his actions. Griffiths was handed a 22-month prison sentence and ordered to comply with sex offender notification requirements for seven years. The judge highlighted Griffiths’ mistreatment of those in public service roles due to his mental health challenges. The consequences serve as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and seeking appropriate treatment.