A murderer who punched, punched and kicked a stranger to death outside a bar will spend a minimum of 18 years behind bars.

Daniel Pickering killed Matthew Thomas after a day of drinking and doing hundreds of pounds of cocaine. After the unprovoked attack, Pickering yelled that he was going to finish him off before kicking and stomping the unconscious man, even as the team struggled to keep him alive.

Pickering has denied murdering the 47-year-old but was convicted at trial last December. Sentencing Pickering to life in prison, a Swansea Crown Court judge said the case brought out “the worst and the best in society”.

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Thomas, known as Brew, spent the night of July 14 last year drinking with friends in Neath town centre. In court, they described him as a “character”, as a sociable person who talks to anyone, likes to “play” and tell stories. Around midnight I was at The Arch bar on Trade Street. Pickering was also at the bar that night.

Pickering had recently moved to Neath to be with his mother after he was released from his home address after being accused of assaulting a bartender in a Hampshire pub. The 34-year-old spent July 14 drinking and also bought around £600 worth of cocaine after accosting a stranger in the city center and asking if he could buy drugs. What the jury was not told during the trial, but what can now be revealed, is that during the day Pickering also took a taxi to Port Talbot in search of a prostitute.



Matthew Thomas died in hospital on 16 July.

The court heard how Mr. Thomas and the defendant met in a bar on the Arch, where Mr. Thomas was talking to members of the wedding party. However, an argument broke out between the two men and Pickering was ejected from the premises for his behaviour. Instead of leaving the premises, the defendant loitered in the street, and when Mr. Thomas left, about a quarter of an hour later, a riot broke out in the street. The court heard that Mr. Thomas was not threatening a shirtless Pickering when the defendant suddenly punched him in the face, causing him to stumble. Mr. Thomas remained on his feet, but Pickering landed a “full-power punch”, which one witness described as a “boxer’s punch” or a “Mike Tyson punch”, to the face, knocking his thug unconscious. on the floor, where she hit her head on the floor.

The staff of the bar and the members of the public rushed to help the injured man, even put him in a resuscitation position and rushed to look for a defibrillator, but Peking stopped over his unconscious victim, cursing and threatening to bite his nose and “end up with him”. Pickering then repeatedly punched, kicked or kicked him in the head, or both, before walking away.

The attorney said emergency services were called and CPR was given to Mr. Thomas for about 30 minutes, which managed to restart his heart. The patient was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, but his family were told the next day that his injuries were “not life-threatening” and that he died shortly before 5am on 16 July. The court learned that during the attack he suffered a rupture of an intracranial artery, which caused brain damage due to lack of blood and oxygen. The court heard that the artery was probably severed by the second hard blow and that Mr. Thomas was already dying on the floor when Pickering stepped on him.

In a victim impact statement read in court by Mr. Thomas, she described her brother as a “character” who was always laughing and joking, someone who would talk to anyone and who had an infectious laugh. She said that the day her brother died, “evil” entered her life and theirs in the form of Pickering, a mean and violent stranger.

John Hipkin, KC, for Pickering, said the defendant chose not to testify at trial, but said he wrote a letter to the court showing he was aware of the gravity of what he had done and the pain it had caused members. from mr thomas

Judge Geraint Walters told Pickering that he had committed an act of “senseless and gratuitous violence” that took the life of Thomas, a man who, by all accounts, was a happy man who loved life and “I had no bones sick”. on his body.” He said he was satisfied with the evidence in the case that the defendant intended to kill Mr. Thomas when he continued to attack the injured man who was unconscious on the road. The judge said the case “reveals the worst and the best of society”: on the one hand, the senseless death of a man, and on the other, the actions of those who fought against overwhelming odds to keep Thomas alive… and medical workers who treated him.

Pickering, of Leonard Street, Neath, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years before he could apply for parole, but the judge said the Probation Board may decide he can never be released.



The Arch Bar and Club in Commercial Street, Neath after the attack

Speaking after the sentencing, South Wales Police Chief Inspector Mark Lewis said: “Daniel Pickering’s brutal attack on Matthew was senseless and unprovoked and is yet another example of excessive consumption of alcohol and class A drugs. can fuel aggressive behavior with tragic consequences for the innocent.” victims and their families.

“We have seen a number of similar murders across South Wales and across the UK. Murders of this nature can be prevented if people take the time to reflect on their own behavior. I want to encourage people to consider their behavior while using alcohol and drugs. Do you get violent? Do you have friends who get aggressive or fight during night walks? Take steps to correct your behavior and avoid confrontation.

“Our thoughts are with Matthew’s family and friends today and I sincerely hope that today’s sentencing will bring closure for them.”

However, the family of Mr. Thomas paid him further tributes. In a statement, they said: “It has been seven months since Matthew was killed in an unprovoked violent attack and it still feels like yesterday. We are all trying to understand how she died and how an outsider could have made the decision to take her life and future that night, leaving behind so much devastation and trauma.

“We sat in court and listened to many witnesses who spoke about the horror of the attack. We are still trying to understand the level of violence that was used and we are very saddened that while Matthew was dying on the floor, Daniel Pickering kept hitting and hitting. head stamp

“Mateus was a cheerful, positive, kind person, he loved life and people. He was the character, the life and soul of the party. He was only 47 years old, father, son, brother and friend to many. He is sorely missed, in the short time since his passing he has missed so many moments that we always feel someone is missing and always will. As a family, we welcome today’s verdict and guilty verdict. It comforts us to know that murderer Daniel Pickering will not be a danger to society for at least 18 years.

“It’s only after a life-changing event like Matthew’s murder that you really realize what an incredible job people do. We are so grateful to the spectators, emergency services and NHS staff who worked tirelessly to save Matthew’s life. We are indescribably grateful for everything that brought the murderer Matthew to court and, at the same time, delivered a guilty verdict. The continued support we received from the police helped us get through this, knowing there was always someone to talk to was invaluable. We thank everyone who is with us at this terrible time.

“Hopefully after today we can move on and start crying and remember Matthew.”

Source: Wales Online