Woman lured ex boyfriend into a trap and then filmed his “brutal assault”
A woman laughed as she filmed her ex-boyfriend ambushing her and his friends attacking her in his car, a court heard.
Summer Marl-Brock, 21, called her ex-partner for help but when she arrived she was subjected to a “truly brutal attack” planned with her cousin David Brock and another man, Aaron Evans.
During the attack, 24-year-old Benjamin Edwards was punched, kicked and bitten in the face.
All three defendants admitted that they injured intentionally and were sent to prison.
On the night of the attack, Marl-Brock contacted Edwards to say he was out drinking and alone. Concerned, she agreed to come to him and they agreed to meet halfway through the shops in Ewloe.
Prosecutor Jemma Gordon said: “What Mr Edwards did not know was that Summer Marl-Brock was with David Brock and Aaron Evans, lying in wait.”
Gordon said Edwards was punched, kicked and bitten by Brock from the driver’s door of his car, while Evans attacked him from the passenger door.
Edwards had bleeding from his eyes, bruising and swelling to his face and head, a small fracture to part of his jaw, bite marks and a wound on his ear.
At one point Edwards crashed his car while trying to escape, eventually running away and police being called.
Laughter was heard as Marl-Brook filmed the attack, which continued for a long time until he was satisfied Edwards was sufficiently injured. Judge Simon Mills said he was heard urging Brock to stop after the incident “got out of control”.
In a victim personal statement, Edwards said he had trouble sleeping, had nightmares and now struggled with social situations. He had panic attacks and had scars that reminded him of the incident.
Gordon said Edwards and Marl-Brock had been in a relationship for 12 months and there were accusations of violence from both parties in the relationship.
Marl-Brock was telling others, and this became the “catalyst” for what happened next.
Brock asked Edwards “who do you think you hit my cousin Summer?” He sent a message saying:
Gordan said Edwards tried to calm Brock down, but Brock sent another threatening message.
Brock, 38, of High Street, Mold, admitted wounding with intent. Evans, 34, of Holway, Holywell, and Marl-Brook, of Hall Street, Rhos, Wrexham, later admitted the same offending.
David Brock admits wounding with intent [North Wales Police]
The court heard Brock had 14 convictions for 29 offences, including assault, driving offences, malicious communication, public order offense and possession of an offensive weapon. Judge Mills said the attack marked a “marked increase” in violent crime.
Aaron Evans had 31 convictions for 54 offences, including assault, shoplifting, possession with intent to supply drugs, drunk and disorderly, battery, driving offences, racially aggravated assault and assaulting an emergency worker.
The court heard Marl-Brock had one conviction for driving offences.
Aaron Evans was ‘motivated’ to walk away from crime, court was told [North Wales Police]
Maria Masselis, defending Evans, said he was drunk at the time of the incident. The court also heard that he was married and had 11 children between them, and if he was jailed those children would be fatherless.
His wife also had a health condition. He suffered from mental health problems and stated that he was “motivated” to move away from offending.
Deborah White, defending Brock, said he had mental health problems, was diagnosed with a personality disorder and was addicted to alcohol. He had a difficult childhood and lost his parents when he was young.
Andrew Jebb, defending Marl-Brock, said she suffered from anxiety, depression, bulimia and anorexia. He had recently suffered a stroke and needed hospital care. He was also diagnosed with a hole in his heart that needed repairing.
Judge Mills said: “You all played your individual roles in a truly brutal attack.”
The judge added that the video recorded by Marl-Brock was “truly shocking evidence”.
“Biting is a particularly grisly feature of this case” and Mr Edwards was not given the chance to defend himself as he was “trapped” in the car.
On Thursday, Judge Mills sentenced Evans to six years and three months in prison, Brock to seven years and two months and Marl-Brock to 54 months.
They were all given 15-year restraining orders from contacting the victim.
